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Reliquary: MAR.M.55 & A-1912

An image of Reliquary
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An image of Reliquary
Current Location: In storage

Maker(s)

Silversmith: Unknown

Entities

Categories

Description

Silver-gilt and rock crystal; hexagonal body and domed cover both of rock crystal, mounted with pierced and engraved silver-gilt.

Silver-gilt and rock crystal; the rock crystal body, baluster stem, slightly domed foot and domed cover are all hexagonal and slightly wider than deep. The cover has an attached baluster finial. The reliquary and cover are mounted with borders of silver-gilt with pierced and cast scroll decoration. A putti head is engraved on one side of the tube, and scrolls are engraved on the underside of the base to cover flaws in the rock crystal. The knop on the stem is engraved with a band of roundels.

Notes

History note: Not known before Charles Brinsley Marlay

Legal notes

C.B. Marlay Bequest

Measurements and weight

Height: 29.2 cm
Height: 11½ in

Acquisition and important dates

Method of acquisition: Bequeathed (1912-06-18) by Marlay, Charles Brinsley

Dating

16th Century, Late-17th Century, Early?
Circa 1550 - Circa 1650

Note

The silver-gilt is not marked, but was probably made in Germany, possibly Freiburg-Breisgau

Components of the work

Surface Of Mounts composed of gold
Mounts composed of silver
Base Depth 8.5 cm Depth 3¼ in Width 11.5 cm Width 4½ in

Materials used in production

Rock crystal

References and bibliographic entries

Related exhibitions

Identification numbers

Accession number: MAR.M.55 & A-1912
Primary reference Number: 159918

Audit data

Created: Saturday 6 August 2011 Updated: Thursday 27 November 2025

Associated departments & institutions

Owner or interested party: The Fitzwilliam Museum
Associated department: Applied Arts

Citation for print

This record can be cited in the Harvard Bibliographic style using the text below:

The Fitzwilliam Museum (2025) "Reliquary" Web page available at: https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/159918 Accessed: 2025-12-06 18:58:09

Citation for Wikipedia

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{{cite web|url=https://collection.beta.fitz.ms/id/object/159918 |title=Reliquary |author=The Fitzwilliam Museum|accessdate=2025-12-06 18:58:09|publisher=The University of Cambridge}}

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