Tuesday, May 10, 2011

Miniature Reliquaries

rel' i • quar' y. A small box, casket, shrine, etc., for keeping or exhibiting a relic.

rel' ic. 1. A corpse. 2. An object venerated by the faithful because of its association with a saint or other sacred person. 3. pl. Ruins; residue. 4. A survival; a vestige. 5. A souvenir; memento; often, a monument of the past.


I have had in my mind to make some miniature Reliquaries for some time. I think they go along with my interest in curiosities and curiosity cabinets. I wanted to have one for my curiosity cabinet I made recently. But never got around to it. I was spurred on in the past few weeks with the news coverage of Pope John Paul II's beatification.


Here is a link to the sale on my web pag: http://evminiatures.tripod.com/reliquary.htm








Reliquary with a vial of blood.



Jewl incrusted reliquary with a saint skull.
Reliquary with an aged packet or envelope sealed with a wax seal. Many real reliquaries have the Vatican wax seal.



Cross reliquary set with fabric fragments.

Reliquary with bone of a saint..

Below is a photo of the reliquary from Pope John Pauls beatification. here is a link if you are intersted: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700131921/Faithful-give-thanks-for-John-Paul-beatification.html



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Above is St John's finger displayed in a reliquary. Almost made one of these but i thought the finger looked cheesy:-) Below are some older and jewel incrusted reliquaries.. Hope I can make more like these in the future..


10 comments:

  1. You make me want to collect this style. I love all these wonderful things you do. They are so imaginative and well made.

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  2. Thanks Catherine.. Not sure how these will sell. There are a few places I can see them fitting in but they may be to strange:-)

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  3. The miniatures are great and you've done a fantastic work but I think they might be a bit too odd for some people.;)

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  4. This is amazing... Great job.

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  5. They are no more odd or creepy than some of the other "occult" things I've seen in miniature but there might be limited appeal. Regardless, you've done a great job on them and they'd be perfect in the right setting.

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  6. Very interesting. The styles in mini are really neat.

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  7. I LOVE these. You have managed to make yours look very much like the real Reliquaries. Being raised a Catholic I can relate to them having been around things like this all of my life. I wonder if other's will appreciate them? I think so because they are perfect shrine material!!! You made them so precise! They are fab!!

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  8. I love them, they are great. I'm already to late, on your web site, they are all gone !

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  9. Wow, Ericka! Your reliquaries are fantastic! I agree they are not for everyone, but you have made them so beautifully real and perfectly miniature! I am very tempted! Your work is always such perfection!

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