Reliquary cross; Spain, 17th century.

Reliquary cross; Spain, 17th century.
Ebonized wood, glass, textile and intaglio stamp.
It presents faults and restorations.
Measurements: 52 x 35 cm.
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.