Description:

Western Europe, probably Italy, 1799 CE. A gorgeous, heavy, silver reliquary box with a Latin inscription describing its contents on one side and a beautiful painted surface under glass on the other that shows the four saints whose remains are contained within. Lift the silver lid - the inscribed side - to reveal seven relics of bone and blood, each set into a border made of thick gold wire and glass jewels. Each border has been hand-labeled in black paint. Size: 3.85" W x 0.75" H (9.8 cm x 1.9 cm)

The description on the back opens with an appeal to Holy Mary, Mother of God, before listing the saints whose relics are here: St. Cassian of Imola (d. 363), a schoolmaster martyred by his own students when he refused to sacrifice to the Roman gods; St. Peter Chrysologus (d. 450), Bishop of Ravenna and one of the Doctors of the Church; St. James the Martyr (d. 44), one of the apostles; and St. Anthony of Padua (d. 1231), a member of the Franciscan Order. The painting on the front echoes this, with a heavenly Mary draped in blue looking down from a cloud upon the four saints, each depicted with at least one attribute. This is a beautiful religious piece that is still a treasure today.

Provenance: Ex-Denenberg Fine Arts, Los Angeles, CA, in 2001; ex-Dr. and Mrs. Oliven, acquired in the 1920s, and ex-Hedy Oliven Trust.

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#120947

  • Condition: Slight patina on exterior metal surface.

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March 23, 2017 7:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,000
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $25,000