Antique Holy Cross reliquary in silver and gilded bronze. Antique silver and gilded bronze reliquary with relics of the Holy Cross and saints, Spain circa 1850 The presented reliquary is an exquisite religious piece from Spain, dated circa 1850. This object is a testament to the devotion and sacred art of the time, crafted in silver (confirmed by acid test) and gilded bronze, showcasing mastery in its creation and a design of great detail and beauty. The central piece of the reliquary houses a relic of the Holy Cross, making it an item of great spiritual and historical value. At the bottom of the reliquary, there are relics of several revered saints: Saint Francis Xavier (Francisci Xaverii), Saint Joseph (Joseph), Saint Mary (Beatae Mariae), Saint Ignatius of Loyola (Ignatii Confessoris), and Saint Francis of Assisi (Francisci Confessoris). These relics are arranged with delicate precision, highlighting their importance and sanctity. The reliquary’s design is impressive, with a structure that combines the sobriety of gilded bronze with the nobility of silver. The top part features decorative golden details with floral motifs and a central medallion of Jesus emphasizing the centrality of the Holy Cross. The lower support, equally elaborate, offers a stable and decorative base, with curves and scrolls enhancing its elegance. Despite its age, the reliquary is in good condition, showing only the natural wear expected of a piece from its era. This object is not only a devotional artifact but also a collectible piece that can add a touch of history and spirituality to any collection or home decoration. Don’t miss the opportunity to acquire this religious art gem, which is not only a testament of faith but also a valuable investment for any serious collector! Measurements: 30 cm x 12.5 cm x 10.5 cm (11.81 in x 4.92 in x 4.13 in). History of the Reliquary: The reliquary is a type of container used in the Catholic Church to hold and display relics, which are physical remains of saints or objects associated with them. Relics have been venerated by Christians since the early centuries of the Church. During the 19th century, the manufacture of reliquaries experienced a boom, especially in Catholic countries like Spain. Reliquaries not only served as objects of personal devotion but were also central elements in liturgical ceremonies and processions. Relics of the Holy Cross, in particular, have been among the most venerated in Christendom, being a powerful symbol of the Christian faith. This specific reliquary, with its multiple relics, would have been an object of great devotion, possibly used in an ecclesiastical context or in a private oratory of a devout family. I think I left nothing in the description but if I forgot something, I’ll be glad to answer any questions. We are professional antique dealers. Enjoy my articles and I hope we keep in touch. I will be glad to answer them. Thanks for trusting me and enjoy! Best wishes from Spain. Simply shop away and then request the total from us. IMPORTANT – SEE ALL THE PICTURES. This is an antique or vintage item, not a new item, and it’s not perfect as a new one. It may have minor scratches or hits not mentioned in this description but than can be seen in the many photos published with it. Scroll down the description to see all the photos. Photos are part of the description, because a picture is worth a thousand words. Please, study the pictures as part of the description and if you have any doubt ask me. Also be aware that when I say that an antique item is in perfect working conditions, doesn’t mean that it works as new. A machine with 100 years is not prepared to be working everyday during hours, except my antique clocks. Many things can happen inside an antique mechanism and today’s perfectly working spring, could be the future’s failure as far away as in 10 years. Or as near as the next month. It’s impossible to know exactly when. If necessary, we restore and/or repair and finally clean and/or adjust, all our antique machines, and if it’s there’s a defect or malfunctions, it’s clearly indicated in the description, video or pictures, but these machines are still antiques. For example, an antique car, a Ford T from 1910, may be in perfect working conditions, but this doesn’t mean that it works as new or that you can use this antique car as an everyday car to go to your job. I want to leave this clear as part of the description. Antiques, even in perfect working conditions, can’t be guaranteed as a new or second hand item. Not only the antique itself has 100 years old or more, but also each spring, screw, wheel and gear of its mechanism has also 100 years or more. Of course, if something happens we can help to solve the problem, even repairing it, we know experts in many areas, but understand that even a perfectly working antique is still an antique. Our work is not complete until you receive your item safely in your home. We certify that our products are 100% originals. We certify that the description and dating of the article that we give is 100% accurate. This article will be perfectly packed so that it arrives in excellent condition. We pay full attention that you receive your article perfectly. We treat the article as if it were going to be sent to ourselves. WE GUARANTEE YOUR ACQUISITION. Many collectors have became millionairs. If you are starting a collection, follow these important tips. If you want to invest in antiques, always choose original pieces and avoid reproductions. A reproduction loses half of its value in the same minute that you are purchasing it, while an original antique gains value each passing day. This is an original antique and its value will continue growing tomorrow. Read and learn about for area of interest: swords, clocks, phonographs, antique photos, old silver, technical antiques, typewriters… Invest in books as much as in your collection and learn as much as you can. If you keep your collecction catalogued, you will increase its value. Keep yourself informed about the market prices in your area of interest. Collect antiques, not junk. It is always better a small collection with excellent pieces than a huge collection of junk, rusty irons and broken machines. There is not a goal to reach, so take the pleasure in in the process of your treasure hunting. A collection should be something to enjoy, and there is many interesting pieces out there and very few time to enjoy them, so be selective with your choices. If you follow these simple steps you will be in the correct direction to develop an excellent collection, whatever is your area of interest and, for me the most important of all, enjoying the process. WHO WE ARE & ABOUT ME. Saragossa is a Spanish medium size city of 700.000 people, located just in the middle of the way between Madrid and Barcelona, 300 kms from each one, and also equidistant 300 kms. To other cities as Bilbao and Valencia. It’s an antique city founded by the Romans, by the Emperor Caesar Augustus more than 2000 years ago, capital of the powerful antique Kingdom of Aragon, 900 years ago and during the Medieval times, and first defeat of Napoleon’s troops in Europe during the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th Century, among other History.. Here I was born, here I live, and here I have my small antiques shop. I started in this world as a collector. My father introduced me into the world of antique collectibles and I started my own antique search at flea markets for my own small antiques collections since I was very young. I’ve been a professional antique dealer since the year 2003, when I decided to join my passion with my way of living. And more than 30 years as a collector, and I still have a lot to learn and only a little to teach. We are a registered legal antique business, here in Spain. I have a small shop open to the public in Saragossa and we are open from 9:00 to 19:00 hours, Madrid time. You are welcome to visit me whenever you wish. And finally, as I mentioned before, I have my own web shop, for 16 years now, in Spanish language although it can be translated to almost any language using the Google Translator button, in the upper part of the web page. The translation is not perfect but it is 90% good, totally understandable and you can always ask me. Mainly, I started specialized in Antique machines as gramophones, music boxes, clocks, watches. But today, I also work with other first class collector items as cameras, militaria, antique scientific instruments. To be exact, nowadays, I work with any first class antique that I could find at a correct price and that we could transport world-wide. We have a wide experience in packing and sending safely World Wide, from China and Singapore, to Dallas, San Francisco, New York or London, Canada, and of course almost all European Countries, many American ones including Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Ecuador and Colombia, and not forgetting Australia, South Africa, Israel and some in the Middle East as Catar and Emirates. We have sent successfully, from fragile items as Chinese Porcelain, to heavy items as Slot Coin Machines, not together into the same box, of course! . We can send almost everything with security, no matter how big or heavy it is, if the client wants to pay the price, because some heavy or big items or delicate items into big boxes are specially expensive to send, not perhaps within Europe, but sometimes to America or Asia and some require custom made packing, as custom made wooden boxes or special foam for transport protection. We work with Selected pieces. All my items are first class collector’s items, in excellent conditions, conservation state or/and working conditions. If talking about antique machines, most of them are in perfect working conditions, perfect conservation state or perfectly restored. The few that are not, because it was not possible to repair it, it’s clearly indicated. I like to work with the best pieces that I can find. I prefer to work only with selected pieces. Selected’ doesn’t mean’unaffordable’. My pieces have very correct prices, depending on the rarity and the conservation state of the piece itself. Every piece has a price rank, from junk state to museum state, that I consider is the highest one. Selected’ means that I prefer to work with Museum State pieces, or near, and First Class collector’s items, or near rather than other kind of low quality pieces. We guarantee the description and datation of all our pieces. I always give guarantee my descriptions, not only in general antiques, but even in the working condition of an antique machine. Of course, to be completely sincere, it’s mainly impossible to give a full guarantee in the working condition of an antique working machine with over or more than 100 years. Many things can happen inside an antique mechanism and today’s perfectly working spring, could be the future’s failure as far away as in ten years. Or as near as the next month. If necessary, we restore and/or repair and finally clean and/or adjust, all our antique machines, and if it’s there’s a defect or malfunctions, it’s clearly indicated in the description, video or pictures. We try to have all our pieces in perfect working conditions, but if a disaster occurs and the item gets out of order or damaged, for any reason, we can help to solve the problem or to help to repair it or to restore it. We work with first class professionals that can restore from antique medieval paintings to 13th Century silver, other metals as iron, copper and bronze, to any kind of wood. Also, we can repair antique machines as gramophones, antique clocks, typewriters and antique mechanical calculators. Our Priority is your satisfaction. And the most important of all, we always take great care of the customer service. Client’s experience with antiques should be always pleasant and happy, or, if this is not completely possible, at least satisfactory and full of joy. Our work only ends, not when we sell the piece, but when our client has the piece in his hands, safely and in good conditions. I speak English fluently, some French, and, of course, Spanish. Thanks for reading this, I hope to deal with you soon, and we stay in touch.