Italy, Rome, second quarter 17th century

Italy, Rome, second quarter 17th century

Reliquary

silver, ebony, hardstones including jasper, agate, lapis lazuli, verde di corsica;

in the shape of an aedicule, the central repoussé silver panel in relief depicting the Virgin and Child framed by a rectangular band of alternating hardstones and mounts, surmounted by a scrolling cresting with repoussé silver putti flanking the central pediment enclosing an agate specimen, the whole raised on a plinth with a glazed cavity in the centre containing an inscribed paper referring to St. Eugenia and another to St. Crispin of Viterbo, with gilt-metal vases from which issues stylized foliage in silver on either sides, the back with a wax seal with a bishop's coat-of-arms, possibly of the Longo family

68.5cm. high, 34cm. wide, 14cm. deep