Important Pair Of Retable Reliquaries - 16th century

Remarkable pieces of carved wood from 16th-century Italy. Crowned with a cross and gilded with fine gold, our two reliquaries, in the form of a portable altarpiece, frame a precious work on parchment with numerous gutter-like cut-outs delineating patches of gold and silver fabric.
At the base of each reliquary is a central medallion featuring five ex-ossibus relics of martyred saints.
The central monstrances each hold 22 separate relics in a fine color montage with four enhanced engraving scenes surrounding a central gouache.

The iconography is worthy of a freeze-frame:
On our first piece, Saint Anthony of Padua is accompanied, on the upper part, by an engraving of Saint Agnes, recognizable by her attributes: the palm of martyrdom, the lamb in her arms and her beautiful hair.
A second engraving offers a rare representation of the Virgin Mary as a child, surrounded by Saint Anne and Saint Joachim.
A more classical counterpart depicts the Holy Family.
And finally, on the lower part, we find an illustration of the Blessing Child, the Salvator Mundi.
Our second piece depicts, around St. John the Baptist, four holy men, including, on the lower part, a holy founder with his church in hand.
The relics of the 54 saints present here are not designated by the traditional phylacteries.
On the back, there are several more recent episcopal wax seals. Reliquaries sometimes had to be opened for cleaning or repair, and were resealed.
Good condition, with some missing gilding and old green holes.
Dimensions of each piece: 97 cm high, 62 cm wide and 18 cm deep.
An exceptional piece.

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