Reliquary of Saint Anne

This reliquary was conceived to hold a small relic of Saint Anne for a religious community in the Veneto. The brief asked for an object that could be carried in procession yet remain dignified on a side altar for the rest of the year, and so the architecture of the piece moves from a stable square base toward a single cylindrical chamber at its centre.

The chamber is enclosed in rock crystal so that the relic is visible without being touched, and the surrounding gilded brass is worked to suggest the soft radiance traditionally associated with the saint’s maternal protection. Silver is reserved for the inner ring that holds the relic in place, distinguishing the point of contact from the ornamental exterior. The base rests on a removable silk velvet cushion for altar display, while a discreet fitting at the reverse allows it to be mounted on a processional staff.

Every decorative element has an iconographic task. The repeated arch motif around the drum refers to the household at Nazareth; the inscription beneath the chamber names the saint in the language of the community. Nothing was added for ornament alone. [PLACEHOLDER COPY — to be replaced with the artist’s own description.]