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About this work
Where medieval reliquaries had employed rich materials such as gold, enamel and gemstones, signifying the divine light and the heavenly realm to which a saint’s relics provided a link, many of the reliquaries produced by members of cloistered women’s religious orders in the post-Reformation era purposely used humble materials like paper, wax and thread. This was a conscious rejection of all excess – the only treasures worthy of the name were the relics themsleves.
Artwork Details
Place/s of Execution
France
Inscription
inscribed in pen and brown ink on paper c.l.: S. Maurii M.
inscribed in pen and brown ink on paper u.l.: S. Benigni M.
inscribed in pen and brown ink on paper u.c.: Reliquae .S S.
inscribed in pen and brown ink on paper u.r.: S. Desidirii M.
inscribed in pen and brown ink on paper c.r.: S. Justini M.
Accession Number
D438-1980
Department
International Decorative Arts
This digital record has been made available on NGV Collection Online through the generous support of Digitisation Champion Ms Carol Grigor through Metal Manufactures Limited
Physical description
Tablet of wax moulded in form of 1/2 figure St Mary Magdalene mounted on scrolled base.