Caption

Reliquary box of Saint Valeria of Limoges, Saint Valeria of Limoges; Martialis Saint; bishop; 3rd century; cephalophoria iconography. Reliquary in the form of a box on legs with a gable roof, flap opening at the back; front wall and roof enamelled with scenes from the life of Saint Valeria. Narrative on the roof: at left a seated man gives orders to a young man in a short tunic a servant who hurries away; next a youth beheads a kneeling young woman with a sword. On the front, in a church, St. Valeria holds her own head and offers it to Bishop Martialis standing at the altar; behind her stands a young man with a lowered sword. Side panels show images of a saint, probably St. Martialis. Figure reserves are gold on a blue enamel background decorated with horizontal stripes and rosettes in white, green, red, and yellow; back decorated with large rhombus motifs filled with squares in blue and black. Date: 1210–1220. Origin: Limoges, France. Ritual object. Dimensions: height 13 cm, width 14.7 cm, depth 6.3 cm., A small decorative box shaped like a pitched-roof structure stands on four short legs, showing intricate enamel work on its sloping roof and sides with a repeating circular and geometric pattern in blue, turquoise, white, and gold, with accents of red and green; the front panel features a framed figure rendered in gold against a deep blue background surrounded by circular motifs, and the edges and feet are detailed with gold patterning and small dark rivets, all set against a neutral gray background.

Credit line

Photo12/Liszt Collection

Reference

LZT26A10_122

License type

Rights managed

Available size

88.3Mb (1.8Mb) / 20.0in x 17.1in / 6000 x 5143 (300dpi)

Keywords

Reliquary box Saint Valeria Limoges Martialis Saint bishop 3rd century cephalophoria iconography Reliquary form box legs gable roof flap opening back front wall roof enamelled scenes life Narrative roof left seated man gives orders young man short tunic servant hurries away next youth beheads kneeling young woman sword front church St Valeria holds own head offers Bishop Martialis standing altar stands lowered sword Side panels images saint Martialis Figure reserves gold blue enamel background decorated horizontal stripes rosettes white green red yellow back decorated large rhombus motifs filled squares blue black Date 1210–1220 Origin France Ritual object Dimensions height 13 cm width 14.7 cm depth 6.3 cm small decorative box shaped pitched-roof structure stands four short legs showing intricate enamel work sloping roof sides repeating circular geometric pattern turquoise accents front panel features framed figure rendered deep blue background surrounded circular motifs edges feet detailed gold patterning small dark rivets set neutral gray background.