{"meta":{"version":"2.1","_links":{"self":{"href":"https://api.vam.ac.uk/v2/object/O110509"},"collection_page":{"href":"https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O110509/"}},"images":{"_primary_thumbnail":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AE9127/full/!100,100/0/default.jpg","_iiif_image":"https://framemark.vam.ac.uk/collections/2006AE9127/","_alt_iiif_image":[],"imageResolution":"high","_images_meta":[{"assetRef":"2006AE9127","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false},{"assetRef":"2018KX9970","copyright":"© Victoria and Albert Museum, London","sensitiveImage":false}]},"see_also":{"_iiif_pres":"https://iiif.vam.ac.uk/collections/O110509/manifest.json","_alt_iiif_pres":[]}},"record":{"systemNumber":"O110509","accessionNumber":"380-1854","objectType":"Reliquary","titles":[],"summaryDescription":"In the medieval period, the bones and body parts of saints, as well as fragments of their possessions, were all known as relics. They were kept in a shrine, or in special containers called reliquaries whose design sometimes evoked the relic itself. Both shrines and reliquaries were lavishly decorated with gold, silver, enamels and precious stones.\r\n\r\nThis realistically modelled reliquary is now empty, but it probably once held a relic of the saint’s head. His name, San Gennaro, is inscribed on the frame of the moonstone on the head. St Januarius (as he is called in English) was a bishop of Benevento in southern Italy. He was martyred about 305 and his relics are housed mainly in Naples Cathedral.","physicalDescription":"Copper- gilt, forming a head or bust of St Januarius, of small life- size; on the forehead is set a large moonstone.","artistMakerPerson":[{"name":{"text":"Unknown","id":"A1848"},"association":{"text":"","id":""},"note":""}],"artistMakerOrganisations":[],"artistMakerPeople":[],"materials":[{"text":"copper","id":"AAT11020"},{"text":"moonstone","id":"AAT11090"}],"techniques":[{"text":"gilding","id":"AAT53789"}],"materialsAndTechniques":"Copper gilt and moonstone","categories":[{"text":"Religion","id":"THES48900"},{"text":"Metalwork","id":"THES48920"},{"text":"Christianity","id":"THES48978"}],"styles":[],"collectionCode":{"text":"MET","id":"THES48599"},"images":["2006AE9127","2018KX9970"],"imageResolution":"high","galleryLocations":[{"current":{"text":"84","id":"THES49710"},"free":"","case":"CA1","shelf":"","box":""}],"partTypes":[[{"text":"Reliquary. Head of St Januarius","id":""}]],"contentWarnings":[{"apprise":"","note":""}],"placesOfOrigin":[{"place":{"text":"Italy","id":"x28927"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"productionDates":[{"date":{"text":"ca. 1500","earliest":"1495-01-01","latest":"1504-12-31"},"association":{"text":"made","id":"x28654"},"note":""}],"associatedObjects":[],"creditLine":"","dimensions":[{"dimension":"Height","value":"10","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""},{"dimension":"Diameter","value":"6.5","unit":"in","qualifier":"","date":{"text":"","earliest":null,"latest":null},"part":"","note":""}],"dimensionsNote":"","marksAndInscriptions":[],"objectHistory":"","historicalContext":"","briefDescription":"Copper gilt reliquary, Head of Saint Januarius, set with a moonstone. Switzerland or Germany, ca.1500-50","bibliographicReferences":[],"production":"","productionType":{"text":"","id":""},"contentDescription":"","contentPlaces":[],"associatedPlaces":[],"contentPerson":[{"text":"Januarius (St)","id":"N4879"}],"associatedPerson":[],"contentOrganisations":[],"associatedOrganisations":[],"contentPeople":[],"associatedPeople":[],"contentEvents":[],"associatedEvents":[],"contentOthers":[],"contentConcepts":[],"contentLiteraryRefs":[],"galleryLabels":[{"text":"Reliquary Head of St Januarius\r\n\r\nIn the medieval period, the bones and body parts of saints, as well as fragments of their possessions, were all known as relics. They were kept in a shrine, or in special containers called reliquaries whose design sometimes evoked the relic itself. Both shrines and reliquaries were lavishly decorated with gold, silver, enamels and precious stones.\r\n\r\nThis realistically modelled reliquary is now empty, but it probably once held a relic of\r\nthe saint's head. His name, San Gennaro, is inscribed on the frame of the moonstone on the head. St Januarius (as he is called in English) was a bishop of Benevento in southern Italy. He was martyred about 305 and his relics are housed mainly in Naples Cathedral.\r\n\r\nSwitzerland or Germany, about 1500-50\r\nCopper gilt, set with a moonstone\r\nMuseum no. 380-1854","date":{"text":"27/10/2005","earliest":"2005-10-27","latest":"2005-10-27"}}],"partNumbers":["380-1854"],"accessionNumberNum":"380","accessionNumberPrefix":"","accessionYear":1854,"otherNumbers":[],"copyNumber":"","aspects":["WHOLE"],"assets":[],"recordModificationDate":"2025-08-14","recordCreationDate":"2005-03-18","availableToBook":false}}