Hand from an arm reliquary, silver, parcel-gilt, Belgium (Flanders), ca. 1250 -1300

Sheet silver, parcel-gilt, set with mica and a stone (with modern wooden base).

Bequeathed by Dr W. L. Hildburgh, FSA

Hildburgh Bequest

Historical significance: Reliquaries had a complex symbolic meaning. They were believed to be imbued with the holiness of the relic they preserved. The faithful believed that by touching a reliquary, they would receive some of this holy quality.

Reliquaries were central features of the Medieval Church Treasury. They symbolised the status and authority of the Church. Relics attracted pilgrims who made gifts and monetary donations to the Church in which they were held. Local people also gave in honour of their saint and to gain protection for themselves and their town. Thus relics could often give a sense of identity within the church community. Some reliquaries were used in religious precessions or festivals, which both involved the community and also reinforced the status of the Church.

Reliquaries were often shaped to represent the part of the body preserved. In this case the hand may have originally formed part of an arm. It was also common for reliquaries to be constructed from gold or silver and enameled or set with gems. The relics (now lost) would have been visible through the windows in the fingers. The style of the ring, worn almost at the fingertip, suggests a date of between 1400 and 1500.

The bones associated with the saints and the possessions associated with Christ are known as relics. In the Middle Ages they were generally believed to have miraculous powers and were greatly venerated. Relics were kept in containers called reliquaries. Reliquaries took many forms. Some were shaped to represent a saint or various parts of the body such as an arm, leg, foot or finger (so-called 'speaking image' reliquaries). Others were designed as a monstrance, which placed the relic on view inside a glass cylinder (monstrare= to show). Another style of reliquary, was the tempietto reliquary, which means "little temple". These receptacles had an architectural design in the form of a shrine or church. This object is an example of a 'speaking image' reliquary. It is in the form of a saint's hand, and was probably originally a part of an arm reliquary. This is the most common type of 'speaking' reliquary to survive, but it may not have contained any relics from a hand or arm at all. Medieval accounts of the celebration of Mass record how some bishops used arm reliquaries to bless the congregation during liturgical performances.

A reliquary is a container for displaying precious relics, consisting of the bones and possessions associated with Christ and the saints. In the Middle Ages these relics were thought to have miraculous powers and were greatly venerated. The faithful believed that by praying, and by touching a reliquary, they would receive protection against sickness and ill fortune.
Reliquaries were generally made of precious materials – gold or silver, with enamel or gems – and they took many forms. Some were shaped to represent the saint, or a body part such as an arm, leg, head, foot or finger. Others were designed as a monstrance, with the relic on view inside a glass compartment (Latin 'monstrare' means ‘to show’). Another style of reliquary, the tempietto (meaning ‘little temple’), reflected architectural forms of the period.
In this case the hand probably originally formed part of an arm reliquary. The relics (now lost) would have been visible through the windows in the fingers. The ring is worn almost at the fingertip, a common practice throughout the Middle ages and well into the 16th century.

M.353-1956