Bidspirit auction | Reliquary bust of Saint Melania,

Reliquary bust of Saint Melania, Italy, 17th-18th centuries - Height x width x depth: 40 x 28 x 10 cm. Weight: 1522.5 g carved in wood, this is a round sculpture. The subject is a skeletal figure, typical of Memento Mori iconography. The bust is covered by a monumental drapery with soft folds. A medallion, a circular monstrance protected by a beaded frame, is set in the center of the chest, housing a relic. The entire sculpture rests on a pedestal carved with rich moldings.