Pair Of Oval Vermeil Reliquaries Containing The Relics Of Four Female Martyrs – 19th Century

An elegant pair of small oval vermeil (gold-plated silver) reliquaries, dating from the 19th century, containing bone relics of four particularly venerated female martyrs.

Each reliquary displays the relics in a small glass compartment, accompanied by their identifying inscriptions in Latin. Both pieces are sealed on the reverse with episcopal seals, attesting to their authenticity and devotional purpose. The reliquaries have not been opened.

First reliquary:

• Saint Cecilia – Sta Caecilia Vi. & Ma. (Saint Cecilia, Virgin and Martyr). A Roman virgin and martyr, traditionally dated to the 3rd century. Patron saint of music and musicians, Saint Cecilia is one of the major figures of the Roman Christian tradition; her veneration has been documented in Rome since antiquity. Her feast day is celebrated on November 22.

• Saint Agatha of Catania – St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr. A Sicilian virgin and martyr, born around 231 and died in 251 in Catania. Highly venerated in Italy and throughout Christendom, she is notably invoked as a protector against fires and natural disasters. Her feast day is celebrated on February 5.

Second reliquary:

• Saint Catherine of Alexandria – Sta Catharinae Vi. & Ma. (Saint Catherine, Virgin and Martyr). A Christian virgin and martyr, traditionally believed to have lived around 282–305. A major figure in the cult of the saints during the Middle Ages, she is notably regarded as the patron saint of young women, students, and many intellectual professions.

• Saint Philomena – Sta Philomenae Vi. & Ma. (Saint Philomena, Virgin and Martyr). A young martyr whose veneration developed in the 19th century following the discovery of her remains in the Roman catacombs in 1802. Traditionally regarded as a martyr of the early centuries, she quickly became the object of great popular devotion, particularly in France.

These two small reliquaries form a beautiful 19th-century set for private devotion, bearing witness to the fervor surrounding the veneration of relics and saints. The presence of the episcopal seals on the reverse, preserved intact, is particularly interesting.

Dimensions: 2.5 cm high each

Police Registry Ref.: A188

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