Baroque silver reliquary pendant Agnus Dei & 16 various relics

Code: 11115

This is an impressive silver reliquary pendant, dating to the 17th - 18th century A.D. The large oval pendant is set with a wax Agnus Dei, surrounded with 16 individual relics with attribution to various saints. The wax is double-sided, one side the Agnus Dei and the other a scene from the Annunciation. These were created by melting the wax of the previous year’s Easter candles from the churches in Rome. Chrism oil was then added to the cauldron of melting wax. The pope blessed the disks that were then given to people to be used as sacramentals. This example has been given the special place at the centre of the pendant, framed by pierced and coloured card (housing eight relics on each side). A nice historic sacred object.

OBJECT: Reliquary Pendant

CULTURE: Baroque, Italian

DATE: 17th - 18th century

MATERIAL: Silver

SIZE: 80.50mm x 60.89mm x 12.91mm 

WEIGHT: 63.07 grams

PROVENANCE: Ex. European Private Collection, Navarra. Spain.