Arm Reliquary of Saint Amantius

This piece sits upon a hexagonal base in moulded gilt wood. The arm, in wood has a wide application of silver leaf engraved with vegetal spirals. The hand is a sculpture in wood. The glass display at the centre allows the relic to be seen; it opens longitudinally and is framed by eight volutes.
This is first mentioned in Inventário das Relíquias que se guardam nos santuários da Igreja de S. Roque (Inventory of the Relics kept in the Sanctuary of the Church of São Roque), from 1698: "An arm of wood embellished with silver: It has a cane of martyr St. Amantius".
Saint Amantius was the first bishop of Rhodes in the 5th century when the bishop converted Honorato to Catholicism. He is the official Patron of Rhodes, where there is a Roman Church dedicated to his cult. Relics of the saint are kept in the Abbey of Conques (France), on the reliquary of Abade Bégon, which dates back to the 12th century.