Set Of Metal Reliquaries Containing "ex Ossibus" Relics Of Saints—authentic, 19th Century

Large reliquary containing numerous bone relics of saints and martyrs from the Roman catacombs

Belgium or northern France, 19th century.

A large, architecturally shaped reliquary made of painted and partially gilded sheet metal, adorned with neoclassical columns, four urns at the corners, and a stepped pyramidal crown, topped by a gilded cross surrounded by radiating beams.

Inside, a large cushion covered in red velvet, richly adorned with gold trimmings and braids, holds numerous bone relics (Ex ossibus) of various saints and martyrs. These are partially wrapped in fine gauze, held in place by silk threads and accompanied by small handwritten identification tags.

An authentic document drawn up in Roanne in 1849 attests to the transfer and new arrangement of the relics, specifying that they were “replaced and sewn onto a red velvet cushion.” This document explains their current presentation and how they are secured to the preserved cushion.

A wide, calligraphically inscribed band bears the following inscription:

“Precious bones of several Holy Martyrs extracted from the Catacombs.”

Of particular historical interest, the collection is accompanied by numerous authentic ecclesiastical documents, including a Roman document dated 1806, as well as several certificates and official records bearing seals, notably those drawn up in Roanne (France) in 1849. These documents attest to the ecclesiastical verifications, the authentication of the relics, their transfer, and their arrangement on the red velvet cushion.

A remarkable collection of 19th-century sacred art and popular devotional objects, particularly noteworthy for the abundance of relics, the richness of its presentation, and the significance of its historical documentation.