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Heavenly bodies: Jeweled skeleton relics show a macabre beauty

 

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  • Imagine, taking a venerated relic and decorating it with precious metals and jewels, all in honor of the early Christian martyrs they are. For some, the jeweled remains are creepy, and the stuff of nightmares, giving an other-worldly look to the mortal remains. For others, they present a macabre beauty that brings the bones somewhat back to life. Take a look at the photos and you be the judge. You can see more of the jeweled remains in the new book Heavenly Bodies, by Paul Koudounaris, Thames and Hudson, 2013.
  • St. Felix from Gars Am Inn, Germany looks like he was in the middle of a blessing as he died.
  • Thought to be the Earthly remains of St. Catherine, it looks as if she was pondering a difficult question.
  • St. Friedrich appears to be lounging waiting for someone to stop by. Gold and jewels cover his breast bone and knees. What appears to be silk drape his remains.
  • The martyr Valerius, or Valery, has had his eyes replaced by blue jewels, his eyelids replaced with fabric and even his lips replaced with pearls as he lies in a church in Weyarn, Germany.
  • An angel pendant with what appear to be rubies grace the skull of this skeleton. It is also covered in gold fabric, gold and precious stones.
  • A wig of gold and rubies cover the scalp of this skeleton. A large blue stone stands in for it's nose. And if you look closely, the spine is wrapped with gold and stone.
  • A golden crown radiates from behind the skull of St. Leontius, a healer, who could heal almost any condition or illness. He is also draped in gold and precious stones. It is believed he would raise children who had died long enough for them to be baptized, so their souls would be able to enter heaven.
  • St. Felicitatus in Sonntagsberg, Austria has silk and jeweled roses cascade down the breast bone of this skeleton. It's also dressed in what appears to be silk clothing.
  • There are many relics that claim the name St. Valentine. This one is from Bad Schussenried, Germany and has a waxen head and piscine lips isn't the true St. Valentine, but it does bear the name of the famous saint.
  • Golden flowers and leaves grace the chest of this skeleton. A gold band outlines the jaw.
  • Gold ringlets cascade from the scalp of this skeleton that is covered with jewels and gold over all of the remains. The eyes have been replaced with large red rubies, ringed in gold and pearls.
  • The skull is no longer connected to the rest of the remains. Eyes have been replaced and gold threads and jewels cover the skull like a crown.
  • A golden, jeweled smile is permanently placed across this skull. Golden ribbon is woven with pearls and other precious stones.
  • You can see more of the jeweled remains in the new book Heavenly Bodies, by Paul Koudounaris, Thames and Hudson, 2013.
 

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