Reliquary 1850 - 1899

This reliquary, standing at just over 11 inches, was crafted by Reinhold Vasters in the 19th century using rock crystal, enamel, gold, and glass. Vasters was working during a time of immense social change, amidst the industrial revolution and its massive shifts in class structure. The reliquary form is an object to house sacred relics, objects of religious devotion. Reliquaries were particularly significant during the medieval period and often became associated with the aristocracy and royalty. Note how the base and the ornamentation around the rock crystal support the central image. Think of the identities embedded in this object. It is not only an object of veneration, it speaks to how class and religion intersect. Consider how one’s beliefs and values are often entwined with one’s social standing, echoing through history, as the reliquary itself serves as a looking glass into these complex dynamics.