18th-century Devotional Reliquary With Double-enamel Painting Depicting Saint Peter And Saint Anne.

A rare and precious oval devotional reliquary dating from the 18th century, preserved in its original hinged case. Both sides are adorned with remarkable hand-painted enamel miniatures. The obverse depicts Saint Peter, identifiable by his keys and the rooster—a symbol of his denial—in a composition of great finesse. The reverse depicts Saint Anne instructing the Virgin Mary, a traditional subject known as *The Education of the Virgin*, rendered with a delicate color palette and high-quality design. The interiorhas retained its exceptional original decoration, consisting of a pattern ofrolled, cut, and gilded paper strips, embellished with floraland plant motifs. The upper section still contains a handwritten cedulain Latin, partially legible (“S. MAMIL…”), likely accompanying the relic, which remains in its original setting. Thelower section is adorned with an elegant Marian monogram, attesting to the symbolic richness of this devotional object. The piece as a whole exhibitsa beautiful sense of authenticity. The enamels are remarkably well-preserved, and the interior decoration, despite a few minor losses due to age, remains remarkably fresh and of exceptional interest. Signs of wear and slight oxidation of the setting are consistent with its age and contribute to the charm of this piece. Thanks to the quality of its enamels, the preservation of its interior decoration, and the inclusion of its handwritten cedula, this reliquary constitutes a rare testament to the art of private devotion in the 18th century. Exemplars with these characteristics are now rarely found on the market. Dimensions: 6.5 × 4.5 cm.