This reliquary is rather similar to the foot-reliquary of Saint James Major, even though the decoration is somewhat less precious. Bishop of Sebastia, Saint Blaise was Armenian. His relics must, therefore, have been relatively easy to find in the East and so it was certainly Jacques de Vitry who made the acquisition. As for the reliquary of Saint James, the saint, here wearing priestly clothes, is represented on the upper oval plaque.
Foot reliquary of Saint Blaise
Oignies workshop
c. 1260
Oak, silver, copper, gold, rock crystal
25 x 25 cm
Donated by the Sisters of Notre-Dame de Namur
Musée provincial des Arts anciens du Namurois-Trésor d'Oignies (TreM.a)
Inv. no. TO 18