What is a reliquary cross?

Take a tour around a church or other holy site and you may well come across a reliquary; a shrine or container of holy relics. Typically, reliquaries were created to contain the remains or belongings of a revered saint and designed to be a place for pilgrims to visit and gain blessings.

The relics themselves could take many forms, if not the remains of a saint, then jewellery; clothing; or pieces of fabric taken from shrouds or other significant religious events. Many saints requested that upon, their death, their remains be divided across multiple locations, to enable a greater audience to visit them. The containers in which the remains rest were customarily ornate affirmations of the valuable belongings which lay within. As an acknowledgment of the reverence in which saints are held, many reliquaries or larger ‘ossuaries’ (containers sometimes for multiple human remains) were decorated in gold, ivory and semi-precious stones.

Despite the ability for a saint to be ‘present’ in many locations after their passing, the popularity of saints, coupled with their scarcity and the demands from the religious masses to be close to them, meant that there was a need for portable reliquaries – some can still be observed in situ with carrying handles intact. However, for those of means and religious dedication, the only way to guarantee proximity to saintly artefacts was to wear a container with such relics contained within.

Such an item is lot 7, a striking George III reliquary cruciform pendant. A substantial piece, it is crafted from silver and firmly keeps shut with a hinged lid, secured with a screw fastening.

It opens to reveal five small compartments, designed to hold the wearer’s holy relics of choice. The outer faces have engravings depicting to either side a growing sapling and to one a bleeding heart with initals MA; the letters IHS to the other, denoting the first letters (iota-eta-sigma) of the name Jesus in the Greek alphabet. There is plenty to look at with this pendant, perhaps the only thing missing, is its very own relics.

This lot will go to auction in the Vintage Jewellery & Accessories auction on Monday 30th January 2017 at 10am.

Selected items will be available to view in London on January 24th 11am – 6pm. Please get in touch to find out more information.