Reliquary Shrine

myminifactory

A vessel for safeguarding holy remnants is known as a reliquary. Sacred relics, which are physical remains or items associated with saints, hold significant value in Christian tradition. The detachable lid with a triangular section allows access to these relics. This reliquary purportedly housed the relics of St Boniface (born circa 675, died circa 755), an English martyr and saint who spread the Gospel among Germanic tribes and the Low Countries. This shrine takes the form of a house-shaped container. It depicts sixteen scenes from Christ's Passion. Various animals, scrolls, prophets, angels, and saints adorn the intricately carved reliefs. Despite its age, most of the original gilding remains intact. This reliquary is believed to originate from the Franciscan church in Constance, a town with a rich ecclesiastical history situated on the Rhine River in southern Germany. The carvings resemble others found within the town. Several derive from engravings by Martin Schongauer (born circa 1435-1450, died 1491), which he published between approximately 1470 and 1490. Gallery location: Medieval & Renaissance Room 64, The Wolfson Gallery, case FS This object is part of the "Scan The World" initiative. Scan The World is a non-profit project introduced by MyMiniFactory to create a digital archive of fully printable sculptures, artworks, and landmarks from around the world for public access at no cost. Scan The World is an open-source community effort; if you have interesting items nearby that you would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to find out how you can assist. Courtesy of the Victoria and Albert Museum, London