The Quedlinburg Treasury Page: 27
30 p. : ill. ; 31 cm.View a full description of this pamphlet.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
/ .<
c -
rOpposite:
NO. 10
Gospel (Evangelistar, 1513),
Cover
Inscribed: MVCXIII Sub
Laurentio preposito and Ave
Maria gratia plena dominus
(1513 Given as a gift under the
patronage of Lawrence; and Hail
Mary, may the grace of God be
with you.)
wooden core; gilt silver foil;
precious stones
34.6 x 26 cmThe spread of Islam in the Near East during the 7th-8th
centuries reduced some of the pilgrimage traffic, but Islamic
craftsmen provided many of the precious materials used in the
elaborately crafted objects which were designed both to protect
and to display the relic inside.
Often reliquaries supply our only glimpse of sculptural style
during the early Middle Ages in Europe. The Eastern Orthodox
Church of the Byzantine Empire continued to attribute mirac-
ulous grace to saints' relics. In the Roman Catholic Church, such
relics were considered to be the focus of prayer by which a devout
Christian could beg a saint for intercession in Heaven.
THE QUEDLINBURG RELIQUARIES
As part of its treasury, the Church at Quedlinburg had a number of
reliquaries from the early Middle Ages. Several were believed to
enshrine Christ's Holy Blood. The Quedlinburg reliquaries in the
present exhibit include pieces composed of cut and polished rock
crystal. The reddish objects inside the various reliquaries are the
actual relics, wrapped in small packages of textile or fiber.
A rock crystal bottle shaped like the head and upper body of a
fish (No. 6), and two polished hexagonally-shaped reliquaries (Nos. 4
and 5), are in the form of turrets. These turret-shaped reliquaries
are in the form called monstrance, meaning "to show," since they
were originally designed to display relics. Later, monstrances
were used to display the Host during mass.
There are two other rock crystal containers, one a spectacular,
large bottle from Fatimid Egypt shaped like a pair of birds (No. 2)
and the other a small flask in the form of a whole fish (No. 3). They
were bound with precious metals at the time they were converted
into reliquaries in the West. The fish-shaped reliquary is inscribed
on the metal band with the name of Otto III and the statement
that it contains a hair of the Virgin. It is possible that the larger
reliquary came to the West by way of Byzantium with Princess
Theophanu, mother of the future Otto III, as part of her dowry. A
rare silver heart-shaped Agnus Dei pendant (No. 8) contains Easter
candle wax blessed by the Pope.V.- \
I--
r.2
., rJ!
_i
--./
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This pamphlet can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Pamphlet.
Dallas Museum of Art. The Quedlinburg Treasury, pamphlet, 1991; Dallas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth307669/m1/31/: accessed May 6, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Dallas Museum of Art.