Reliquary Panel of the Shrine of St Oda (Tactile)

Synopsis

Meuse valley (modern-day Belgium); 1165-1170, relics inserted after 1236; silver, silver-gilt, copper, copper-gilt, enamel, rock-crystal and horn; about 58 cm high by 38 cm wide and 6 cm deep. This panel was removed from a shrine dedicated to St Oda of Amay in Belgium. The panel shows St Oda flanked by female personifications of Religion and Charity. In small cavities within the borders of the panel are the relics of female saints, each labelled with a saint's name, and are said to include the breast milk of the Virgin Mary, on the right in the second cavity from the bottom. This gable-end of the shrine is extremely ornate and is shaped like the gable end of a house “ a triangle with the point at the top on top of a rectangle. The shrine has three distinct borders around the central scene of St Oda between the two figures of Religion and Charity. The outer border has panels of yellow/blue/white/black/red/green enamel decoration alternating with smaller panels containing an oval piece of smooth rock crystal. The second border, the same width as the outer border, has an intricate embossed pattern in silver-gilt. In this border are set the small containers covered by horn that contain the relics “ eight in total, three on each vertical side and one on either side of the gable. The third and inner border is thinner than the other two and consists of a simple embossed pattern in silver-gilt. The central scene has a decorative "canopy" over it consisting of an intricate pattern inset with ovals of rock crystal “ a large oval above St Oda with two smaller ones above the two figures. St Oda is shown taller than the two flanking figures and is facing you. The two figures, holding long scrolls in their hands, come up to St Oda's shoulders and are turned facing the saint. All figures have circular halos behind their heads and are wearing long elaborate robes. St Oda is wearing shoes while the other two figures are bare foot. St Oda holds a short scroll in her left hand. The tactile image is roughly half the size of the actual panel. The outer frame is shown as solid texture with hollows for the rock crystal ovals along with some of the patterning shown as solid shapes on a light. The second border is shown with a texture with hollows containing solid rectangles for the horn covered compartments. The inner border is shown by a thick solid line. The decorative canopy over the central scene is shown by solid texture with hollows for the rock crystal ovals. The three figures are shown with two textures (the same ones used on the outer and second frames) for their robes, a thick outline for their halos and solid texture for their hair, scrolls and St Oda's shoes. [Museum number: PE 1978,0502.7]

Copyright:

2011

Book Details

Book Quality:

Excellent

Publisher:

RNIB

Date of Addition:

06/05/17

Copyrighted By:

RNIB

Adult content:

No

Language:

English

Has Image Descriptions:

No

Categories:

Religion and Spirituality

Submitted By:

Chantelle Hughes

Proofread By:

N/A

Usage Restrictions:

This is a copyrighted book.