Medieval Silver And Wooden Holy Container In The Shape Of Saint Eustace`s Head That Once Formed Part Of Basel Minster`s Treasury. Editorial Image

The treasury was acquired by the Canton of Basel in 1836 and shortly afterwards sold at auction to collectors and museums across Europe. The reliquary was later bought by the British Museum. Head reliquary of St Eustace and wooden core; silver-gilt repoussé head with gem-set filigree circlet binding straight hair; nine gems composed of varieties of quartz rock crystal, chalcedony, amethyst, carnelian, two of aragonite pearl, mother of pearl, one of obsidian and six of glass. Supported by fully carved wooden core also in shape of head, top of which forms lid of hollow compartment for relics.Around the plinth are gold plaques in the form of the twelve apostles standing under an arcade of trefoil-headed arches.Contemporary wood case.