Carved, Lacquered, And Polychrome Wooden Reliquary Bust Of A Bishop – Italy, 18th Century

Carved, lacquered, and polychrome wooden reliquary bust of a bishop – Italy, 18th century

A large (87 cm) 18th-century Italian reliquary bust depicting a holy bishop wearing a miter and dressed in his pontifical vestments.

Description

Carved from wood, lacquered, and polychromed, the figure is distinguished by its particularly decorative execution.
The bearded face, rendered with solemnity, is crowned by a tall miter embellished with colorful elements imitating cabochons and precious stones. The cope features a remarkable relief decoration of foliage and plant motifs, highlighted with metallic tones and punctuated by green cabochons.

At the center of the chest is a large circular reliquary cavity—currently empty of any relic—set within a sculpted frame adorned with volutes.

The bust rests on an architectural base with scrollwork, adorned at its center with the head of a winged cherub.

The reverse side, intentionally more understated and left largely undecorated, retains the flap that formerly provided access to the reliquary cavity—a characteristic feature of this type of devotional sculpture intended to house and display relics.

The work belongs to the Italian tradition of Baroque reliquary busts, which flourished particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries for the decoration of churches, chapels, and sacristies.

Condition

The surface retains a beautiful patina, with signs of wear, missing areas, and alterations to the polychrome paint and lacquer, all clearly visible in the photographs and consistent with the piece’s age. These signs of age contribute to the piece’s character and authenticity.

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