Antique European Silver Cross Reliquary Pendant

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Ancient & Ethnographic Art Through The Ages

By Artemis Gallery

Oct 22, 2020

Set Reminder 2020-10-22 10:00:00 2020-10-22 10:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : Ancient & Ethnographic Art Through The Ages https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/artemis-gallery/ancient-ethnographic-art-through-the-ages-5850
Ancient art from Egypt, Greece, Italy and the Near East, as well as Asian, Fossils, Pre-Columbian, Native American, African / Tribal / Oceanic, Fine art, and much more! All categories, all price ranges... all legally acquired and guaranteed to be as described or your money back. Artemis Gallery info@artemisgallery.com

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• Lot Description
  Western Europe, Spain or Italy, ca. 19th century. An exceptional silver cross reliquary embellished with a gorgeous openwork filigree, nearly identical on both sides save for the central petaled flower ornament featuring blue glass at the center on one side and red glass on the other. Several raised silver orbs encompassed by rope motifs dot the surface, forming lines parallel to the arms of the cross, while larger versions of these adornments are featured on the perimeter at the end of three arms. Twelve lovely petaled flower designs decorate the each end of the arms of the cross and the inner corners on the perimeter. The loop at the top not only functions as a suspension for the pendant, but also unscrews to open to where a small relic would have been stored. Metal composition: 90% silver, 6% gold, 3% copper; Size of pendant: 1.5" L x 1.25" W (3.8 cm x 3.2 cm); Size of stringing: 22" L (55.9 cm); Weight: 12.7 grams.
  
  Relics - physical remains of saints or objects associated with Christ, such as pieces of the True Cross, the shroud His body was wrapped in, or the Holy Grail - held tremendous power in early Christianity. Reliquaries, objects designed to hold relics, were usually kept in cathedrals or churches, but some wealthy individuals were able to possess them. The less wealthy could purchase replicas of reliquaries, small reliquaries containing less precious items like soil from a holy site, or metal items produced as a form of souvenir from shrines. Later, many of these objects were destroyed in times of religious conflict or strife; ones that are intact, like this one, have often been passed down through generations of families.
  
  Provenance: ex Estate of Eldert Bontekoe, Pegasi Numismatics, Ann Arbor, Michigan USA acquired before 2000
  
  All items legal to buy/sell under U.S. Statute covering cultural patrimony Code 2600, CHAPTER 14, and are guaranteed to be as described or your money back.
  
  A Certificate of Authenticity will accompany all winning bids.
  
  We ship worldwide and handle all shipping in-house for your convenience.
  
  #158656

  Condition

  Two flowers in corners of cross are missing 3 to 4 petals each. Still functional with excellent remaining detail. Cord (which dates later than the piece) included.
• Shipping Info

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