The Holy Thorn Reliquary

ClickontheGooglePreviewimageabovetoreadsomepagesofthisbook!Madeingoldandenamelanddecoratedwithpreciousstones,theHolyThornReliquarydepictsthesalvationofmankindthroughthesacrificeofChrist.Itwascommissionedaround1400-10byJean,ducdeBerry,amemberoftheFrenchroyalfamily,tohouseasinglethornfromtherelicofChrist'sCrownofThorns.Havinglefttheduke'spossession,itwasrecordedinViennafromaround1544untilthe1860s,eventuallybeingacquiredbyamemberofthewealthyRothschildfamily,withitstrueidentityremainingundiscovereduntilthetwentiethcentury.Thisbookexploresthemeaningandhistoryofthisfascinatingobject,andtellsthetaleofitsremarkablesurvivalandeventualpassagetotheBritishMuseum.