SOLD Antique Voyage Reliquary

SOLD

A very unusual piece, it's purpose was to hold a personal relic or written devotion and prayer for use for protection in travel. It is Italian and dates towards 1890.

It is a metal cast work, which uses brass, mixed metals and silver to achieve a solid and heavy box form. The scrolls and arabesques of the two faces have been hand cut so that they appear in a lacework fashion (these open spaces allowed for the use of incense as well). Outlining all edges is a very fine running brass edging which has tiny vertical tooling to add texture. The face has four amethyst glass stones, each individually set.

The box form opens at the back via a hook at the very top which threads through the mounted ring. The hinge goes entirely across the middle, allowing the box to open completely. The back face repeats the cut out work of the front. The sides are of a single strip of metal with a silver plate wash. There is a brass chain threaded through the top ring.

It measures: 3" x 2 1/8" x 3/8". It is in good working condition; the door opening and closing properly. The metal has not been polished so there are dark and light parts to the patina as they are photographed. There is some wear to the finish patina of the flat parts front and back; where the silver wash has worn with age and use. It is a heavy object for it's size due to the mix of metals.

It is a curious travel reliquary.