#IBMakingart

Artist: Bishop Reginald of Bath
Title: Reliquary Pendant with Queen Margaret of Sicily Blessed by Bishop Reginald of Bath
Date: 1174-1177
Medium: Gold
Size: 5 x 3.1 x 0.7 cm

During the late 1100s, when this piece was made in Canterbury, England, there was a lot of divide and conflict over religion and its practices. This caused most of people's lives to revolve around it, either from wars or everyday life, and led many artists to create religious artworks. However, it was not only artists who created pieces as religion had been tied to murder and so pieces like this were used as a way to show sympathy or other emotions. The time period in which the piece was created is also significant because it was just a few years after the murder of the archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, by the king.

The little picture of this piece is quite literally engraved into it, a gift from Bishop Reginald to Queen Margaret of Sicily. It was given to her by him at her son's wedding when he married the daughter of Henry II in 1177. The exact reason as to why he presented this gift to her is unknown, but the different, deliberate choices made in its design can be used to infer its purposes. This can also be representative of the fact that although conflict was present between the ruling body and religious figures, it was not between all of them and that positive relationships could be preserved.

It is arranged so that the observer's eye is drawn to the center, the large part of the pendant containing to image of the pendant being handed from Bishop Reginald to Queen Margaret. Around this central image is inscribed the title of the piece, to make clear what exactly is happening in the image and who the two people are. On the back of the pendant is an open space, now without covering or items inside, but makes it clear that it did serve a purpose and originally held something. Along with this open space is a list of items that were held within it.

The piece and the fact that it was given as a gift may both hold a lot of significance. As mentioned, it is currently empty, however, the list that was on the back of the pendant names pieces of clothing items that were held. Specifically, it said: "Of the blood of Saint Thomas martyr. Of his vestments stained with his blood: of the cloak, the belt, the hood, the shoe, the shirt.” This was in reference to Thomas Becket, the same one who was murdered, in that it held pieces of his bloodied clothing. The significance of them being placed in this pendant, held in by a crystal, and presented to the Queen of Sicily as a gift is the possible meanings of this. It could be that this is evidence of some sort of relationship or friendship between the Queen and Becket that was not widely known. Regardless as to whether or not this is its original significance, it is one that could be inferred from what is seen. It is also significant as it emphasizes the importance of relics and such within both the political and social commerce of the time.