Reliquary

A container for religious relics. It is used to protect and exhibit the relic. Reliquaries have often been made of precious metals or other costly materials or glass. Some reliquaries have been elaborately decorated with enamel, jewels, or paintings. Reliquaries have been made in a variety of shapes, including caskets, boxes, churches, gabled buildings, crosses, amulets, ampullae, capsules, rings, small tables, the shape of the relic contained, or the symbol of the saint whose relic is contained in the reliquary. See Relics.