Reliquary
of the Holy Lance.
Venetian art. Fifteenth century.
The reliquary
consists of a gold-plated silver mounting on a six-lobed base
supporting a rock crystal sphere. Above it there is an element
similar to the "lantern" of a dome with six crystal
elements. This is closed on top by a small dome and above there
is a cluster of crisp leaves. The translucent enamels decorating
the reliquary are also of special interest.
Crystal cut
in such a precise way has been typical of Venetian workmanship
since the high Middle Ages.
|
A few of the many items on display in the Treasury
Museum
|