Baroque reliquary

A reliquary is a container in which the remains of bones, clothing or objects associated with a particular saint, or other holy relics, are stored or exhibited. Ten small containers are inserted in this gilt wooden Baroque reliquary, with relics of eleven male and two female saints. In the upper part of the reliquary are seven containers with relics of the apostles Simon and Mathew and the saints Ignatius of Loyola, Dominic, Paschal Baylon, Vitus, Florian, Vincent, John of Nepomuk and Ann. In the lower part of the reliquary, three cartouches contain relics of the apostles Peter and Philip, and St Lucy. Veneration of relics flourished mainly in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, as well as at the time of Baroque piety, which encouraged large demand and thus also large production of ‘relics’. After the Tridentine Council, every relic had to have confirmation of its authenticity issued by the highest church authorities.