Accession number
HCM 113
Date made
15th century AD and later
Materials
Metal; Silver (gilded); Crystal
Collection
Dimensions (cm)
Archival information
File of material relating to a silver reliquary bust. Includes photocopy of object description sheet including sketch of object (date unspecified). Mentions Craggaunowen Castle, county Clare, and object was probably displayed there; photocopy of photograph of object (date unspecified); Hunt Museum object comment sheet (19 March 1997) which contains remarks made about object by Doctor Eileen Kane, Department of History of Art, University College Dublin. Inscription on object refers to James Butler and Kane comments that discovering when the dukedom of Ormond was created would help date the bust. Also recommends researching Saint Stephen. It is noted, 'Deacon - Stephen was a deacon who was stoned. Often shown as a deacon - significance of stone on his head for reliquary'; note (date unspecified) refers to comparable head reliquaries, one of Pope Alexander and another of Frederick Barbarossa. In relation to that of Pope Alexander stated that it is held by the Musées Royaux d'Art et d'Histoire, Brussels, and names relevant publication, 'The History of Silver' (Black Cat, 1991) edited by Claude Blair; also present is photocopy of extract from publication (date unspecified) issued by this museum in Brussels on the cover of which is an image of the reliquary head of Pope Alexander; photocopy of incomplete letter (date unspecified) from Tom Cassidy to Mairead Dunlevy, Director, Hunt Museum. Transcribes inscription recorded on the object but annotation highlights that transcription of one word as 'iarius' or 'iarins' is uncertain. Recommends conservation work be carried out; photocopy of extract from publication entitled 'The Thyssen-Bornwmisze Collection: Medieval sculpture and works of art' (London: Philip Watson Publishing, 1987) by Paul Williamson which contains description and image of a reliquary head of an unidentified saint; letter in French (18 October 1999) from Odile de Wailly (address withheld) to the Conservator, Hunt Museum, in which she writes that during a visit to the Hunt Museum she noticed the present object which she says is a replica of one of the treasures of Grandmont abbey, near Limoges, in France. Quotes from an exhibition catalogue for 'Legende dorée du Limousin - les Saints de haute-Vienne,' held at Paris during February-March 1996. It states that the Grandmont bust represents Saint Etienne Muret, hermit and founder of the Grandmont order, and was donated to Grandmont by Cardinal Briconnet, abbot (1495-1507). Writer states that Monsieur Gaborit, conservator in the sculpture, Louvre, believes the bust is similar to the Tuscan style of the late fifteenth century. Gives contact details for persons who will be able to give more information about the Grandmont bust. Encloses photocopy of image of this bust.
Category
Place of collection
Copyright Attribution
Silver reliquary bust | Metal,Silver (gilded), Crystal | 15th century AD and later | The Hunt Collection | PD