A sculpted bust of a saint designed to contain relics, combining portrait-like representation with the physical function of a sacred container.
A reliquary bust combines the form of a portrait bust with a container for relics, often of the saint represented. The relic may be enclosed within the head, chest, base, or a glazed opening.
Etymology
Reliquary from Latin reliquiae, “remains,” + bust.
Sculptor Notes
The type alters the meaning of portrait sculpture. The figure is not only a likeness or commemoration but also a physical vessel. The sculptor therefore has to resolve access, cavity, closure, structural wall thickness, and sometimes precious-metal or glass fittings without weakening the image.
References
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/193674