CENTRAL OR SOUTHERN ITALIAN, 13TH/15TH CENTURY | PAIR OF RELIQUARY BUSTS OF MARTYRED FEMALE SAINTS

Sold from the Collection of the Marchese Lanza di Ajeta at Lepke, Berlin 20-21 March 1928, lots 116 and 117

Influenced by goldsmith's work North of the Alps and the Meuse Valley and evocative of the Byzantine tradition, the present pair of reliquaries were made in Central or Southern Italy and correspond to the somewhat archaic appearance of silver reliquary busts in those regions, including: St. Maria Salome from the Museo del Tesoro del Duomo, Veroli, 13th century and St. Thomas of Veringerio from the church collegiata di Santa Maria Assunta, Amasena from the 15th century (Montevecchi, op.cit., nos. 1 and 2). The distinctive, almond-shaped eyes with defined brows, the prominent noses with diminutive mouths and the refined hair divided into neat strands (in the case of the Maria Salome) are analogous. The present pair are embellished with painted jewelry, blood from their lacerated necks and arrows piercing their breasts. The eyes are also painted to simulate nielloed silver. 

RELATED LITERATURE

Benedetta Montevecchi (cur.), Sculture Preziose Oreficeria sacra nel Lazio dal XIII al XVIII secolo, Rome, 2015