{"product_id":"an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon","title":"[Sold] An Exquisite Bavarian Reliquary Containing the Forearm of St. Gereon","description":"\u003ch2\u003e DESCRIPTION\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTitle: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Ulna of St. Gereon of Cologne (Martyr)\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e(Born: N\/A, Germany- Died: 304 AD, Germany)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaker, Location, Date: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eGerman, C.1450\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMaterials: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eGilt wood\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e (limewood?) \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003ebone, feathers, silver wire, coloured beads\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDimensions: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eH\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cb\u003e78 x L 17 x B 12 cm\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eProvenance: \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe Chapel of a Noble Family, Mdina, Malta\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cspan\u003e(according to Obelisk Auctioneers, Attard, Malta)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn intriguing Roman Catholic sacred reliquary displays the right-hand ulna of Martyr and Saint Gereon of Cologne. The deeply carved limewood (?) forearm is robed and gilt whilst the hand is ebonised, and the plinth that continues at the base of the arm is both gilt and painted, an elegant extension to the above that exemplifies the style of the Middle Ages. A long strip of glass runs across the front of the reliquary, which acts as a display window for the actual relic. On the verso, one finds a cloth-covered insert nailed into the structure with hand-forged nails and tied with a strap, further sealed by many wax seals.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe sacred bone was lightly wrapped in a linen cloth with an applique of silver wire, green feathers and coloured beads—a label inscribed with ‘S. Gereonis M.’ has been placed on top of the ulna.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eTen wax seals can be found on the verso, which are divided into three types. The oldest, a golden-brown seal, can be located twice and in trace amounts (barely visible). The second layer features an ochre-orange red seal portraying the insignia of a bishop (auxiliary?) under a wide-brimmed galero, the field of which is azure (horizontal lines) and whose charges include a cross atop 3(?) balls(?) and three stars\/flowers(?) inscribed with ‘\u003cstrong\u003evicar capitular’\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ca name=\"_ftnref1\" href=\"https:\/\/artemisialtd.com\/product\/an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon#_ftn1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/artemisialtd.com\/product\/an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon#_ftn1\"\u003e\u003csup\u003e[1]\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e, the rest of the text is missing\u003ca name=\"_ftnref2\" href=\"https:\/\/artemisialtd.com\/product\/an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon#_ftn2\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/artemisialtd.com\/product\/an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon#_ftn2\"\u003e\u003csup\u003e[2]\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe third seal, brick red, displays the emblem of the Jesuit Convent and refers to the parish of Freising, Germany\u003ca name=\"_ftnref3\" href=\"https:\/\/artemisialtd.com\/product\/an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon#_ftn3\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/artemisialtd.com\/product\/an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon#_ftn3\"\u003e\u003csup\u003e[3]\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca name=\"_ftn1\" href=\"https:\/\/artemisialtd.com\/product\/an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon#_ftnref1\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/artemisialtd.com\/product\/an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon#_ftnref1\"\u003e\u003csup\u003e[1]\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e ecclesiastic selected by a Roman Catholic cathedral chapter to administer the affairs of a vacant see until a new bishop is appointed\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca name=\"_ftn2\" href=\"https:\/\/artemisialtd.com\/product\/an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon#_ftnref2\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/artemisialtd.com\/product\/an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon#_ftnref2\"\u003e\u003csup\u003e[2]\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eResearch is underway to determine the owner of these arms.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca name=\"_ftn3\" href=\"https:\/\/artemisialtd.com\/product\/an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon#_ftnref3\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/artemisialtd.com\/product\/an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon#_ftnref3\"\u003e\u003csup\u003e[3]\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/sup\u003e\u003c\/a\u003eResearch is underway to determine more about these arms and their relation to the object.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca name=\"_ftn3\" href=\"https:\/\/artemisialtd.com\/product\/an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon#_ftnref3\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/artemisialtd.com\/product\/an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon#_ftnref3\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca name=\"_ftn3\" href=\"https:\/\/artemisialtd.com\/product\/an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon#_ftnref3\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/artemisialtd.com\/product\/an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon#_ftnref3\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore about arm reliquaries:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis type of reliquary\/relic is known as a speaking relic, the most revered category of its type, because its outer shell communicates what kind of relic is housed inside.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArm reliquaries were popular because they could easily be set standing upright on or near an altar, but perhaps more so because of their sacred gesture. By showing a saint’s hand as a blessing, clergy could carry or display the reliquary, animating a Saint’s body during liturgical celebrations or processions. In this way, the saint could bless, touch, and heal the faithful with their hand, which came in handy in the case of St. Gereon, as he is known to be the patron saint invoked by those suffering from migraines or headaches. Such speaking reliquaries became popular throughout the Medieval period as churches on major pilgrimage routes vied for the pilgrims’ attention.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMost sacred relics on the market feature minuscule labelled fragments of holy objects or bones without authenticating their claims. In this case, the full ulna (the outer bone in the forearm connecting the wrist to the elbow) has been encased and sealed by no less than three different wax seals located at the precise points of opening the relic, and the nails hammered into the wooden matrix to seal the relic. These seals were appended as an attestation, directly applied once the wax had already been laid on the matrix.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout Saint Gereon of Cologne:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e St. Gereon of Cologne (N\/A-304 AD) was born and died in Germany and served as an Imperial Roman soldier. In sacred art, he is usually represented as a soldier or medieval knight, and because of this, he became a famous military saint. St.Gereon and other saints in his troop were beheaded and died as martyrs of the faith. He is the patron saint of all those suffering from migraines or headaches. St. Gereon’s Basilica in Cologne is dedicated to him, which also houses the Convent of St.Gereon.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCondition:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is in excellent condition considering its age. A few old and inactive woodworm ‘flight holes’.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReferences:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBedos-Rezak, Brigitte Miriam.’’In Search of a Semiotic Paradigm: The Matter of Sealing in Medieval Thought and Praxis (1050–1400)\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBoehm, Barbara Drake. “Relics and Reliquaries in Medieval Christianity.” In\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eHeilbrunn Timeline of Art History\u003c\/em\u003e. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBagnoli, M., and K. Gerry.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Medieval World\u003c\/em\u003e. Baltimore, Maryland, Walters ArtMuseum, 2011.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBagnoli, “Treasures of Heaven: Saints, Relics, and Devotion in Medieval Europe\u003cem\u003e”\u003c\/em\u003e. Cleveland: Cleveland Museum of Art, 2010\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMcLaughlin, Meredith. “Arm Reliquary: Journey from Divine to Fine Art.”\u003cem\u003eMedieval Art and the American Public: A Digital Narrative\u003c\/em\u003e, FordhamUniversity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFreeman, Charles. ‘‘\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Holy-Bones-Dust-History-Medieval\/dp\/0300184301\" data-mce-href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Holy-Bones-Dust-History-Medieval\/dp\/0300184301\"\u003eHoly Bones, Holy Dust: How Relics Shaped the History of Medieval Europe\u003c\/a\u003e’’\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e“Gereon (Geron) and Companions.”\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Oxford Dictionary of Saints,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e2011\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":48572939305306,"sku":"","price":6500.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0838\/0864\/9562\/files\/IMG_0294-600x600.jpg?v=1720015844","url":"https:\/\/artemisialtd.com\/it\/products\/an-exquisite-bavarian-reliquary-containing-the-forearm-of-st-gereon","provider":"Artemisia Fine Arts \u0026 Antiques Ltd","version":"1.0","type":"link"}