Spanish Colonial Antiques Latin American Art

Relicarios are devotional lockets, often two-sided, that contain images of the saints, Christ, or the Virgin. The custom of devotional lockets traces back to medieval Europe and the cult of relics. Most typically, the favorite images are painted on tin, silver, wood, mother of pearl, or paper and encased in a silver bezel. While these lockets are often well painted, they are modern reproductions, antique relicarios are very rare. Many reproductions are currently being made in especially Peru and Bolivi.

Genuine antique relicarios are very rare. Many reproductions are currently being made in especially Peru and Bolivia. While often well-painted, these lockets are frequently and falsely described as being antique or Spanish Colonial. Caveat emptor.