A Flemish Carved And Polychrome Wood Monastic Reliquary Casket, Bruges, 17th Century

Rare monastic reliquary casket made of carved and polychrome wood, early 17th-century Flanders, from the former Abbey of Ter Doest, near Bruges.

Description

Rectangular in shape and resting on four legs, this chest features, on all sides, a rich relief carving of foliage scrolls, palmettes, and floral motifs arranged around central fleurons. The lid echoes this ornamental vocabulary in a symmetrical composition.

The piece’s particular appeal lies in the preservation of its original polychromy, which has now developed a deep patina: beneath the dominant light tones, significant traces of red, green, and blue are still visible, while the interior retains a remarkable antique red color. The visible wear and layers of paint attest to a long material history and lend the box a particularly authentic presence.

The construction, the vigorous carving, and the plant motifs are characteristic of monastic or ecclesiastical furniture of the period. Its provenance from the Cistercian Abbey of Ter Doest, founded in the 12th century and located in Lissewege, in the Bruges region, adds special historical interest to this object.

Condition:

Deliberately preserved in its original, aged state, with significant wear, losses, and flaking of the polychrome, as well as minor imperfections and signs of use. Numerous visible historical holes. These alterations are consistent with the piece’s age and use and reveal the different layers of its polychrome decoration.

Founded in the 12th century, the Cistercian Abbey of Ter Doest, near Bruges, was one of the most important monastic institutions in medieval Flanders, with a history spanning several centuries.


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