Large Reliquary In Three Chapels With 77 Relics - 19th Century

Halfway between the classic paperolles reliquary and the Paradis de Nevers-style dioramas, our remarkable composition accommodates numerous relics in a chapel-like decor under three worked arches.

Each of the three chapels has its own altar decorated with turned ivory candlesticks, a painted miniature portrait and painted glass plates in imitation of different marbles.
The main altar of the central chapel is dedicated to the Virgin, it is richly decorated with bouquets of pink flowers in spun glass (one flower has fallen) in miniature vases in turned ivory.
We find the portrait of the Virgin in miniature on ivory, a beautiful color engraving representing Jesus and Saint John the Baptist as children.

The chapel on the left is dedicated to Saint Joseph and the one on the right to Saint Paul.
The columns are covered with shiny, embossed and gilded papers. Characters, bouquets of flowers, decorative elements are made of embossed gold paper, all on a bright green background.

There are 77 distinct relics found here. The number of relics is a symbol. So when Jesus tells Peter that he must forgive “not up to 7 times, but 77 times”, he indicates the perfection of love which has no limit.

Dimensions at sight of 39.5 cm by 31 cm.
Dimensions of the whole: 52 cm by 44 and 8 cm deep.

The whole thing is in good condition and is protected by original glass in a large black lacquered wooden frame.
Some remains of episcopal wax seals remain on the back.

This piece cannot be sent by post, due to the traditional fragility of rolled paper montages and dioramas.

Ref: 843P3LT2XQ