Silver monstrance or reliquary, 15th century, (1881). Etching of a silver religious item, possibly made in France. It is missing the original glass. A reliquary is a container for the relics of saints, and a monstrance is used for the exhibition of the consecrated Eucharistic host or other holy object. From "The South Kensington Museum", a book of engraved illustrations, with descriptions, of the works of art in the collection of the Victoria & Albert Museum in London (formerly known as the South Kensington Museum). [Sampson Low, Marston, Searle and Rivington, London, 1881]