Reliquary of Mary Magdalene

Unknown

14th and 15th century · Gilded copper, gilded silver, rock crystal, verre églomisé · Medieval Art

Reliquary of Mary Magdalene, 14th and 15th century Made in Tuscany, Italy Gilded copper, gilded silver, rock crystal, verre églomisé; Overall 22 x 9 3/8 x 7 15/16 in. (55.9 x 23.8 x 20.2 cm), roundel 3 3/8 in. (8.6 cm) Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 (17.190.504) While their choir books were richly colored, Franciscan communities frequently chose more somber verre églomisé, a reverse-glass painting technique, for reliquaries. Although the palette of the glass medallion that crowns the reliquary is limited, the overall effect of crystal and gilded metal is sumptuous. The relic, enclosed in rock crystal, is said to be Mary Magdalene's tooth.

Artist

Unknown

Date

14th and 15th century

Medium

Gilded copper, gilded silver, rock crystal, verre églomisé

Culture

North Italian

Department

Medieval Art

Credit line

Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917