The Holy Thorn Reliquary

The Holy Thorn Reliquary

Image and description are from the British Museum.

Identifier: WB.67 about 1400 CE • Enamelled gold, sapphires, rubies and pearls • reliquary relic

This reliquary was made to contain a thorn, supposedly from the Crown of Thorns that was placed on Christ’s head before the Crucifixion. The armorial enamelled plaques in the base show that it was made for Jean, duc de Berry (1340–1416). The Crown of Thorns itself was a French royal relic, housed in its own chapel in Paris. Individual thorns were detached to make precious reliquary jewels.

The Holy Thorn Reliquary Made in Paris, France – Located at the British Museum in London, England in Room 2A. Its size is 15 cm wide, 30.5 cm high, 7 cm deep, and it weighs 1.4 kg.

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