In the medieval period relics of saints –
fragments of bone, clothing and other items – were powerful
symbols. The relics were preserved and cherished, often in
beautifully designed and expensive reliquaries or shrines, and were
shown to the faithful on special occasions. Pilgrims would travel
long distances to see them.
Where was the reliquary made?
This house-shaped reliquary, or châsse, was made in
Limoges, in central France, the principal centre of enamel
manufacture in the Middle Ages. The Limoges workshops operated on a
production line system, with several men working on each piece.
This division of labour was necessary to deal with the huge demand
for reliquaries, book covers, pyxes and other items for church
services. Limoges reliquaries like this one ended up in churches
all over Europe, and around 700 are still in existence today.
What does the reliquary represent?
We do not know which saint is associated with this casket.
However, it is clearly decorated with scenes from the story of the
Three Kings, or Magi. On the lid the Kings are shown following the
star of Bethlehem, while on the front panel they bring their gifts
of gold, frankincense and myrrh to Jesus and the Virgin Mary. The
Journey of the Magi and Adoration of the Magi were popular subjects
for Limoges reliquaries – for example, a similar casket can be
found in the Musée National de
Moyen Age in Paris.
Above: Reliquary in the Musée du Moyen Ages in Paris. Photo ©
Marie-Lan Nguyen / Wikimedia Commons.
How was the reliquary decorated?
The reliquary follows the fashionable Gothic style, its design
reflecting the pointed arches and tracery of medieval Gothic
architecture such as the cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris, which
was built between the 12th and 14th centuries.
The casket is decorated by a technique called
champlevé. This involved cutting away surface areas from a
sheet of metal and filling the recesses with powdered glass in a
chosen colour. The sheet was then placed in a kiln hot enough to
melt the glass but not the metal. Afterwards the panel was
polished, gilded and nailed onto a wooden frame. The background of
this reliquary has been enamelled in this way, with the figures
engraved and then gilded. The heads were made separately and were
applied to the panel before it was enamelled and gilded.
Although many of the relics carefully preserved are now regarded
as fakes, the reliquaries themselves remain beautifully crafted
pieces of work.