RELICS (Britannica Online Encclopedia)
“Relics of saints, founders of religions, and other religious personages, which are often objects of worship or veneration, generally consist of all or part of the skeleton (such as the skull, hand, finger, foot, or tooth), a piece or lock of hair, a fingernail, or garments or fragments of clothing. Such veneration is nearly universal, as is the production of reliquaries, or shrines that contain relics. The size, form, and materials of reliquaries vary greatly and often depend on the nature of the relic being exhibited. They may be fixed but are generally portable…”
RELIQUARY (Merriam Webster Dictionary)
"a container or shrine in which sacred relics are kept"
There are an insane amount of articles containing the term reliquary or relic, but they are all directed towards one reliquary in particular. So, instead, here are two articles that go into a further definition and description of the objects themselves. The first article is geared toward Medieval France, and the second article is about Medieval Germany.
Also, the website below has detailed descriptions of the terms reliquary, relic, ossuary, shrine, and also other types of reliquaries.
"Bust, foot, and arm reliquaries are known as “speaking reliquaries” because their shape reflects the relics they contain. Other popular types of reliquaries include the house, church, cross, purse, necklace, and triptychshaped forms that survive today in cathedral treasuries and museums."
Excerpt from the article "Relics and Reliquaries" in Medieval Germany
"In addition to the casket, purse, body-part, and figure reliquaries, a number of relics of the True Cross are placed within cross-shaped reliquaries and reliquaries in the shape of a miniature became popular. Monstrance reliquaries, known from at least the 12th century, become popular in the late Middle Ages. These reliquaries are in many shapes, but all include a glass or crystal compartment in which the relic can be clearly seen."
Excerpt from the article "Relics and Reliquaries" in Medieval France
The following is an excerpt from an article titled “Joseph Cornell in Context” by Vivian Young. Cornell was an American sculptor who built shadow boxes, which could be a modern interpretation of a reliquary. This article can be found at http://www.aaa.si.edu/collectionsonline/cornjose/container191722.htm.
“From a closer study of his ideas and following certain clues he gives us, one forms the conclusion that Cornell does not conceive of his boxes as entirely separate works, but as part of a much larger whole. A “great work” which he planned early in his career to encompass his conception of the world in relation to the cosmos. In 1943 he published in View Magazine a tower or “Crystal Cage” of words which is simply a list of all the aspects that have later appeared in his boxes. This idea of the Great Work, a tower built with his boxes, would explain why an artist so completely involved in preserving the fleeting moment and intricately documenting the past, should fail to date the majority of his works; and also why he should be so reluctant to exhibit them and to sell individual works (frequently making exact copies when he does).”
I have become very fascinated with the idea of building something to hold, support, save, and/or protect a precious object. I have stated before that mixed media has become more of an interest to me as more and more straight, simple images take over our daily lives. I find it very interesting that a lot of the traditional reliquaries, like the first image below, were built out of precious metals, a material that I have been recently working with myself. I believe that I enjoy the more modern approach to these boxes, like Joseph Cornell's work, in which images, objects, and its container are arranged in a less literal way that allows the viewer to make an interpretation of the subject, objects, and/or artist. I feel as if I have been having a hard time figuring out what to do with all of these objects and images that I have acquired from my past, and that this may be an appropriate way to organize, speak, and be satisfied. Expect to see more from Cornell on my blog.
A French reliquary from the 19th century, made of gold over silver, was made in the shape of a miniature late Gothic cathedral. photo and © The Speed Art Museum, Louisville, Kentucky, Bequest of Preston Pope Satterwhite.
This image was one of the many Google image results. I believe that they are either handmade by or just sold by an individual named Lori K. Gordon. I chose this image specifically to go along with Joseph Cornell's image below.
Untitled (Medici Boy)
1942-52 (140 Kb); Construction, 13 15/16 x 11 3/16 x 3 7/8 in; Estate of Joseph Cornell
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