An oakwood reliquary cradle in Gothic style, Flemish 16th Century
Etude Tajan,, Drouot-Paris. Such rare reliquaries were meant to contain a wax figure of the Christ child in the cradle and this magnificent piece which recalled Flemish altars was usually rocked by nuns during prayers running from the first day of the Advent to the Epiphany (12th night). It also kept its wood case painted with the arms of the Cockaert and Van Cattenbraek families from Brussels. The Paris Middle Ages Museum of Cluny acquired it for a price just above the low estimate and its curator was womewhat elated since only 18 pieces of this kind still exist nowadays, the best being exhibited in the Metropolitan Museum of New York.
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