Reliquary Of The Sponge Of Christ's Passion – Italy, 18th Century

Reliquary of the Sponge of Christ’s Passion – Italy, 18th century

Reliquary made of a gilded alloy, likely bronze, of 18th-century Italian workmanship.

Description

The architecturally designed, fully openwork frame features a rich Baroque decoration of angels in relief, scrollwork, and foliage, arranged around a central theca. The piece, resting on four scroll-shaped feet and surmounted by a cross, is accented with red and green glass cabochons, adding a striking polychromatic effect to the gilded decoration.

Relic of the Sponge of the Passion

The central reliquary contains a fragment accompanied by its handwritten inscription “Spongia D.N.J.C.,” standing for Spongia Domini Nostri Jesu Christi, meaning “Sponge of Our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This is a relic traditionally attributed to the Sponge of the Passion—the one which, according to the Gospels, was soaked in vinegar and presented to Christ on the Cross.

On the reverse, the reliquary retains its ecclesiastical seal in red wax bearing a coat of arms, still in place.

A very fine example of an Italian Baroque reliquary, remarkable for the richness of its setting, its abundant angelic decoration, and the quality of its craftsmanship.

Condition

Signs of wear and minor historical alterations consistent with its age and use.

In accordance with canon law (can. 1190 §1), this sale concerns solely the reliquary as an object of sacred art. The relics it contains are not the subject of the transaction but are included as a courtesy due to their historical and cultural value.

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