Adoration of the Magi 1500 - 1899

Reinhold Vasters's "Adoration of the Magi" is a small, intricately detailed reliquary, now housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The piece, made of rock crystal and adorned with gold and enamel, features a central panel depicting the biblical scene of the three wise men kneeling before the baby Jesus. The reliquary's elaborate structure showcases the craftsmanship of the late 19th century, with its twisted columns and ornate decorations echoing the architectural styles popular during the Renaissance. This small but magnificent object exemplifies the tradition of reliquaries as devotional objects, used to house sacred relics and inspire awe and reverence in believers.