A Place to Store Treasured Objects
This sculpture of a woman's head and shoulders is a type of container called a reliquary. An artist made it around the year 1510 to hold a relic. A relic is something that belonged to a holy person like an item of clothing or an adored object. A relic could even be a body part like a bone!
This reliquary was carved from wood and decorated with gold and many colors of paint. The artist who made it took great care to create a realistic image of a woman. What are the details that make the sculpture look real? The skin on the woman's face seems soft, and she is wearing a necklace that appears to be made of metal. She has blue eyes and red lips. Did you notice the pattern of her braids? This is how some women wore their hair at the time this reliquary was made.
Artists made reliquaries in many shapes and sizes. Sometimes they were made in the form of something that referred to the relic. For example, a bone from a hand could be preserved in a reliquary shaped like an arm. Because the relics stored inside were so important, reliquaries were made of valuable materials like gold, silver, and crystal. Many reliquaries were richly decorated with precious stones and pearls.
You can see this reliquary when you visit the European art galleries on the second floor of the Ahmanson Building at LACMA.
Search Collections Online to see other reliquaries.
Reliquary Bust
Flanders, Brabant, circa 1510
Polychromed and gilded wood with hinged, fabric-lined lid on top of head
16 1/2 x 15 x 7 in. (41.91 x 38.10 x 17.78 cm)
William Randolph Hearst Collection
Photo © 2007 Museum Associates / LACMA
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Welcome to Artwork of the Month! Visit this page every month to explore a new treasure from LACMA's extensive collections.
Artwork of the Month is intended for children but can also be a fun resource for students, teachers, and families who want to learn more about artworks in LACMA's permanent collection and special exhibitions.
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