Spanish or Italian school; 17th century.

Spanish or Italian school; XVII century.
"Fragment of a monstrance".
Gilded bronze and enamel.
Presents faults.
Measurements: 23 x 16 x 3 cm.
Fragment of monstrance made in bronze The realization of this type of religious objects, designed to house the relics of the saints, was common since the Gothic period, highlighting both the crosses, as the so-called "testas", which, in the contemporary documentation to its realization, were very popular. They were used to contain relics. In spite of the fact that many of them adopted very diverse forms, all of them had the same devotional purpose, which sometimes went beyond fanaticism. It should be remembered, however, that at that time, practically any element that had been in contact with the saint or his mortal remains (cloths, burial soil, etc.) was considered a sacred relic. This triggered a whole market for such objects. The best examples were made of precious metals, but specimens such as the present one were also highly valued, both for the container and, above all, for the content.