Rectangular box, made in the Lower Saxony area, formerly owned by the monastery of St. Cosmas and Damian in Wunstorf. The mounting of the box is modern. The lock is probably not part of the original inventory. It is also possible that some of the covering plates have been renewed. It is difficult to say when the reworking took place, but in any case around 1862, when the casket came to the then Guelph Museum as a gift from the church council.
At the time of the gift to the Guelph Museum, the relics that are now lost are said to have still been in the box: a bent bone with circular patterns, a bronze chain, two pieces with soil from Mount Tabor and the Mount of Olives (according to the parchment strip with inscription) and a piece of gold plate with filigree.
The Saxon pennies of Otto I (936-973) or Otto III (983-1002) worked on the lid are considered to be the same as those of Otto I (936-973) or Otto III (983-1002). (983-1002) are used as indications for the dating. The reliquary is thus one of the few well-dated examples of such ossuaries, which were already in fashion in the early Middle Ages but were still very popular as reliquaries in the 12th century.
Former Guelph Museum Hanover (permanent loan NLM Hanover)
de
