Monstrans van het Maagdenhuis 1642

"Monstrans van het Maagdenhuis" is a 17th-century silver and glass reliquary made by Thomas Bogaert. It is a freestanding structure, with a central cylindrical glass container that is enclosed within a decorative gold frame. At the top, a small crucifix surmounts a spire-shaped element that is richly adorned. The work is a fine example of Baroque silverwork, crafted for the Maagdenhuis (House of Virgins) in Antwerp, Belgium. It is a piece of religious art, designed to display a sacred relic for veneration by the faithful. It is often referred to as a "monstrance" in English, or a "custodia" in Spanish.