Front of the Monymusk reliquary

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This portable reliquary, known as the Monymusk Reliquary, is one of Scotland's greatest treasures. It dates from around 750, and was an important object into the Middle Ages. This picture shows the front of the reliquary.

The edges of the reliquary are bound with tubular bronze fittings. Three round and three rectangular gilt bronze mounts were attached to the front but two have been lost. The central settings and sections of the borders of the mounts are in red enamel.

The mounts on reliquaries of this type were richly decorated and elaborate objects. Viking raiders sometimes cut the mounts from looted reliquaries and re-fashioned them into other objects such as brooches.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-000-705-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  H.KE 14
• Date: Around 750
  c. 700
  
• Material: Bronze, silver, wood
  Reliquary
  
• Dimensions: 112 mm x 51 mm x 89 mm
  
• What: Reliquary
  
• Subject: Crucifixes, reliquaries (NMAS Classification)
  
• Who: Abbot Bernard de Linton
  Grant of Monymusk
  St Columba
  
• Where: Scotland
  Scotland, Aberdeenshire, Monymusk
  Scotland, Angus, Arbroath Abbey
  
• Event:
• Description: Monymusk Reliquary, of wood, bronze and silver decorated with intertwined animals, which may have contained a relic of St Columba, made in eastern Scotland c. 700
  
• References:
  • Calder, Jenni. The wealth of a nation. Edinburgh: National Museums of Scotland and Glasgow: Richard Drew Publishing, 1989, pp 26, 74 
  • Caldwell, D.H. (ed). Angels Nobles and Unicorns: Art and Patronage in Medieval Scotland. Edinburgh: NMS, 1982 
• Translations:
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