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Source Description
This type of reliquary, sometimes called "bursa" or "purse-shaped," originated in Germany and Austria in the 13th century. On the back is a long inscription that lists all the relics once contained inside. In the Middle Ages, it was not unusual to combine many relics in one container, thereby increasing the number of saints who could potentially intercede to help answer the prayers of the faithful.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
34489
label
Reliquary of the Virgin and Saints
core
obj
dtoType
object
citationUrl
pageCount
2
Source metadata
id
34489
sourceUrl
contentType
object
stage
normalized
title
Reliquary of the Virgin and Saints
description
This type of reliquary, sometimes called "bursa" or "purse-shaped," originated in Germany and Austria in the 13th century. On the back is a long inscription that lists all the relics once contained inside. In the Middle Ages, it was not unusual to combine many relics in one container, thereby increasing the number of saints who could potentially intercede to help answer the prayers of the faithful.
provenance
Ernest Odiot, Paris; Sale, Chevalier & Mannheim, Paris, April 26-27, 1889, no. 62; Chabrières-Arles, Paris [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Joseph Duveen, London [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henri Daguerre, Paris [date and mode of acquisition unknown]; Henry Walters, Baltimore, 1922, by purchase; Walters Art Museum, 1931, by bequest.
date
late 13th century (Medieval)
citationUrl
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
genreSpecific
Metal
reliquaries
imageCount
2
pageCount
2
source
import
dimensions
units
cm
width
13.6
height
14
depth
7.8
dimensionsRaw
5 3/8 x 5 1/2 x 3 1/16 in. (13.6 x 14 x 7.8 cm)
Source extras
cul
German
style
Gothic
inscriptions
[Transcription] Inscribed on one long side panel of the reliquary: +DE.DENTE.S.BARTHOL.S. / PETRI.ET.PAVLI.THOME.ST / EPHI.PANTAL.M.ET.D'CAPUTE / XPOFORI.M.VNDECI.M.V.D.SE / PL'CRO.D.BNDCI.ABB'D'PSEPE. / D'.DE.CAPILL'.S.M.VIRG.DE. / VESTE.CORNELII.ET.ALIOR.SCR[Translation] [Relics] of the tooth of St. Bartholomew
Sts. Peter and Paul
Thomas
Stephen
Pantaleon
martyrs; and of the head of Christopher
martyr; the Eleven Thousand Virgins; of the sepulcher of the Lord; of Benedict
Abbot; of the cradle of the Lord; of the hair of the Blessed Virgin Mary; of the garment of Cornelius and of other saints.
med
gilded copper, mother of pearl, rubies (or spinels), rock crystal, turquoise, and unidentified gem stones
creator_ids
6211
collection_ids
MED
exhibition_ids
2547
2691
2865
2638
Page inventory
seq
1
type
photo
mediaId
abc2e6a5dd862b06
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no
seq
2
type
photo
mediaId
3900d5840e598656
hasOcr
no
hasDescription
no