In the medieval period, the bones and body parts of saints, as well as fragments of their possessions, were all known as relics. They were kept in a shrine, or in special containers called reliquaries whose design sometimes evoked the relic itself. Both shrines and reliquaries were lavishly decorated with gold, silver, enamels and precious stones.
This reliquary once held a fragment of St Scholastica’s right arm, visible through the crystal window. A Latin inscription asks the saint to pray for us. Another inscription, as well as the dove perched on her fingers, alludes to Scholastica’s death. The holy legend states that her brother St Benedict saw her soul ascending to heaven in the form of a dove.
Physical description
Silver parcel gilt, in form of a right arm and hand resting on a square base, with a dove perching on the fingers. On the base in an enamelled medallion with a sword and a pastoral staff crossed behind it. Designed to hold an arm bone of Sancta Scholastica.
Place of Origin
Spain (made)
Date
1624 (made)
Artist/maker
unknown (production)
Materials and Techniques
Silver parcel gilt
Marks and inscriptions
Engraved around the cavity holding the relic (clockwise from top): 'IN COLVMBE SPECIE COELI SECRETA PENETRAVI' Latin, 'In the form of a dove I entered the mysteries of heaven'.
Engraved on a band where the arm joins the base of the reliquary: 'S[ANCTA]. SCHOLASTICA ORA PR[O] NOBIS'. Latin, 'Saint Scholastica, pray for us'
Inscribed on the back: F[?ERNAND]O BENEDITVS GARCIA 1624
Applied to the front, a gilded and enamelled roundel with the arms of the Military Order of Santa María del Lírio (Our Lady of the Lily), the emblem of a lily in a two-handled pot surrounded by the intwined letters 'AM' ('Ave Maria', or 'Hail Mary').
Engraved on the base: 'ESTRANNA' Spanish, 'Strange', or 'Foreign'
Dimensions
Height: 19.5 in, Width: 6.75 in base
Descriptive line
Silver, parcel-gilt, set with crystals, Spain, dated 1624
Bibliographic References (Citation, Note/Abstract, NAL no)
Oman, Charles. The Golden Age of Hispanic Silver, 1400-1665. London: Her Majesty's Stationery Office, 1968.
See catalogue no. 153.
Robinson, John Charles, ed. Catalogue of the special loan exhibition of Spanish and Portuguese ornamental art: South Kensington Museum. London, Chapman & Hall, 1881).
See no. 927.
Exhibition History
Shrine and Body Relics (Sacred Silver and Stained Glass Galleries, the Victoria and Albert Museum 22/11/2005-22/11/2005)
Labels and date
Arm Reliquary of St Scholastica
In the medieval period, the bones and body parts of saints, as well as fragments of their possessions, were all known as relics. They were kept in a shrine, or in special containers called reliquaries whose design sometimes evoked the relic itself. Both shrines and reliquaries were lavishly decorated with gold, silver, enamels and precious stones.
This reliquary once held a fragment of St Scholastica's right arm, visible through the crystal window. A Latin inscription asks the saint to pray for us. Another inscription, as well as the dove perched on her fingers, alludes to Scholastica's death. The holy legend states that her brother St Benedict saw her soul ascending to heaven in the form of a dove.
Spain, dated 1624
Silver, partly gilded, set with crystals
Museum no. 332-1880 [27/10/2005]
Materials
Silver; Gold
Techniques
Parcel gilding
Subjects depicted
Dove; Hand
Categories
Metalwork; Religion; Christianity
Collection code
MET
