Reliquary - Silver - 1750-1800 - Peter Streissel, Munich, 1783 - Holy Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ

RARE Silver reliquary cross – Peter Streissel – Munich, 1783 – Antique case and provenance

Exceptional Bavarian silver reliquary cross, made in Munich in 1783 by the goldsmith Peter Streissel (active from 1780, died in 1813), known for producing religious and liturgical metalwork.

The cross, with trilobed ends, is entirely adorned with an elegant engraved decoration of scrolls and vegetal motifs. It bears a finely chased Christ in the roundel, surmounted by the titulus INRI.

At the crosspiece lies a stained-glass reliquary oculus containing wood fragments arranged in the shape of a cross, traditionally presented as a relic of the Lignum Crucis – wood of the True Cross.

The whole is surrounded by remarkable convent work (Klosterarbeit), consisting of guilloches and gilded metal bouillons, sequins, beads and small ornaments on a textile background.

Punctuation marks and inscriptions

The cross bears:

* the master’s mark “P.ST”, attributed to Peter Streissel;
* the Munich control mark, with the Münchner Kindl and the date 83, corresponding to the year 1783;
* on the reverse, a monogram engraved “D.A.A.” accompanied by the date 1804, evidence of an intervention or a historical affiliation after its fabrication.

Ancient provenance – Marie-Thérèse, Queen of Bavaria

The cross is accompanied by two old handwritten sheets kept in its case.

One clearly bears the name “Maria Theresia” as well as the mention “Königin v. Bayern” – “Queen of Bavaria.” A prestigious provenance linked to Maria-Theresa, Queen of Bavaria (Kg. von Bayern), attesting to the presence of this masterpiece in the Wittelsbach royal family collections in the 19th century.

This inscription constitutes an important ancient provenance element, suggesting an association of the cross with Marie-Thérèse of Modena (1849-1919), Queen of Bavaria, wife of King Louis III. In the absence of further archival documentation, this royal provenance should nevertheless be regarded as traditional and attributed, but not formally certified.

The second sheet bears a short ancient handwritten German text.

The object is kept in its antique case specially fitted to the shape of the cross, externally leathered and internally lined with red textile, showing normal age-related wear.

Rare Munich sacral goldsmithing ensemble from the late 18th century, particularly interesting for its identified goldsmith, its precise dating to 1783, its Klosterarbeit reliquary, its antique case and the accompanying provenance manuscript documents held with the piece.

Photos are an integral part of the item description and complement its presentation. Please examine them carefully before any bidding.

The item will be carefully packed and shipped with tracking number to ensure fast and secure delivery.

Happy bidding

In accordance with canon law (can. 1190 §1), this sale concerns only the reliquary as a sacred art object. The relics it contains are not the subject of the transaction but are included gratuitously for their historical and cultural value.