Rare 17th Century Cross Whalebone Reliquary with 14 Holy Martyr Relics

A "whalebone" reliquary from the Holy Roman Empire and Spanish Flanders in the shape of a cross. The cross contains 14 first-class ex-ossibus relics from 11 martyrs, St. Amand, who is revered in Flanders, and probably the 2 St. Leontius from Bordeaux, Younger and Elder. The martyrs include:
St. Justin Martyr
St. Apollonia
St. Julia of Corsica
St. Julia of Troyes?
St. Josaphat of Polotsk?
St. Euphemia
St. Euphrasia of Nicomedia
St. Thomas the Apostle?
St. Denis?
One Unknown Saint
 
This is a lovely, small cross with a loop for a chain to serve as a pendant that is both an icon of religious devotion and a testament to a moment in European history. The white set against the black in small loops produces a simple, yet elegant design that expresses the humility, simplicity, and tranquility of a saint’s life. Hand-cut rock crystal forms the windows onto the relics. Peaceful contemplation and the comfort of a simple cross that contains the relics of those who gave their life for the faith are the goals of the artisan, and he achieves his goal perfectly.
The form is made of baleen, which is the material from a whale’s jaw that filters plankton as the whale eats. Commercial whaling had begun in earnest in Europe in the 17th century, and Spanish whalers, operating in the northwest Atlantic, often brought their goods to Flanders, where highly skilled artisans manufactured a variety of products from the semi-precious material.
Interest in martyrs and the early history of martyrdom in the church captured the imagination of Roman Catholics during this period, in part, owing the deaths of several Roman Catholics in England in the preceding century and the death of Josaphat of Polotsk as a martyr in Ukraine. Many of these Roman Catholic martyrs were in the process of beatification at the time that this cross was produced. The fascination with martyrdom prompted the first ecclesiastic studies of the early-church martyrs since the Martyrologium Hieronymianum of the 5th century.
This is a very fine piece in which the devout can find comfort and an excellent collectors’ piece that testifies to a unique confluence of events and public sentiment at a moment 350 years ago in European history.
 
Condition report:
This exceptional reliquary is in outstanding condition material used as frame. A small portion of the frame in the upper reliquary has come loose, but there is no damage to the crystal or reliquary.
Provenance
Belgium private collection
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Please note that we only sell the containers of our relics, the Holy Relics are given free in accordance with canon law.
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