Dealer Information Dealer: Ancient-Jewellery Location: Avon, United Kingdom Tel: Email: glypticbob@gmail.com

Medieval Silver Reliquary Pendant "shirt of the Virgin" Chartres

Code: 11877

Website: https://www.antiquesboutique.com/antique-pendants/medieval-silver-reliquary-pendant-shirt-of-the-virgin-chartres/itm70599

This is a superb medieval silver reliquary pendant, dating to the 15th - 16th century. The pendant is in the form of a shirt, known as “The Veil of Notre Dame”. It was originally believed to be some type of shirt. King Charles the Bald gave the veil to the Chartres Cathedral in 876AD and it was sealed in the reliquary. It wasn't until the 17th century when the reliquary was opened did pilgrims realize the relic was a piece of silk from a veil and not a shirt. This item is in the form of a shirt, so would predate the 17th century, it also has a depiction of a lance, of the type used for jousting in the 15th and 16th century. The back of the amulet has an engraved flower, this is a Lilly and was the sacred plant of the Virgin Mary.

This item would have been purchased at the shrine by a pilgrim of substance, sadly the hinge is broken on this example but it is still intact. A rare item is a collectable condition.

OBJECT: Reliquary Pendant

CULTURE: Medieval

DATE: c. 15th - 16th century A.D.

MATERIAL: Silver

SIZE: 29.45mm x 20.81mm x 2.64mm

WEIGHT: 3.07 grams

PROVENANCE: From an old French collection