TRUE CROSS RELIQUARY IN GILDED WOOD

True Cross Reliquary — 18th Century

Rare and spectacular reliquary of the True Cross, crafted from carved, gilded and polychrome wood in the form of a radiant monstrance. The relic is displayed at the center of an impressive sunburst glory composed of numerous gilded rays, following an iconography intended to emphasize the precious and sacred nature of the relic of the Cross of Christ.

At the center, beneath glass, is a delicate reliquary arrangement set against a textile background. A small pale cross dominates the composition; at its center is a fragment of the True Cross. Fine spiral-shaped metallic ornaments in silver and gold tones surround the cross, forming a particularly refined decorative wreath.

The entire composition is set within an imposing structure of carved and gilded wood. The central section, worked in dark brown and gold tones, forms a dynamic Baroque-inspired frame, extending into a fluted decoration in its lower section. The reliquary rests upon a carved baluster stem and a broad oval base decorated with leaf motifs.

The spectacular glory of gilded rays surrounding the relic directly evokes divine light and gives the object the appearance of a small monstrance. This particularly theatrical presentation is characteristic of the Baroque taste for reliquaries designed to visually exalt the most sacred relics.

The reverse, more restrained in its decoration, retains an old wooden panel closing the reliquary cavity, while the piece as a whole displays a beautiful patina and natural wear to the gilding consistent with its age.

Good antique condition with wear to the gilding and rays, as visible in the photographs.
Original old glass present.
Unopened.

PERIOD: 18th century
HEIGHT: 26 cm
SIZE: 10"

The True Cross refers, according to Christian tradition, to the wood of the cross upon which Jesus Christ was crucified. From the earliest centuries, these relics were regarded as among the most sacred in all Christendom. Tradition attributes their discovery to Saint Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, during her pilgrimage to Jerusalem around the year 326.

From the Middle Ages onward, tiny fragments were distributed among major churches, monasteries and certain religious communities, where they were preserved in reliquaries specially created to reflect their exceptional importance. Relics of the True Cross were displayed during major liturgical feasts and were objects of profound veneration.

Small architectural reliquaries such as this example, inspired by the forms of tabernacles and church façades, were designed to magnify the relics they contained. The richness of their decoration, the use of gilded bullion wire and the delicacy of their interior compositions perfectly illustrate the devotional art of the 18th century. Examples preserved in their original condition, with their old glazing and intact interior arrangement, are today particularly sought after for their artistic quality as well as their historical and spiritual significance.