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Martha Egan’s new book, Relicarios: The Forgotten Jewels of Latin America, celebrates finely crafted bi-faced lockets popular during the Spanish Colonial era. Relicarios held prints, miniature paintings, or bas-relief sculptures of holy figures behind glass in silver or gold frames. The jewels could be simple or lavishly encrusted with gems. Although Jesuits in particular exported tons of relics to Latin America from Europe, in general only the elite wore relicarios containing relics. The pendants served to reflect loyalty to the Spanish Crown and the Catholic Church, devotion to certain saints, and as powerful amulets to protect the wearer from harm in the precarious New World. Although written for the general reader, much of Egan’s information will be new even to historians of Latin American art. She includes such rarely discussed topics as Bethlemite monks’ badges, Agnus Dei wax medallions, and Native people’s affinity for religious jewelry.
Topics such as New Spain’s ivory trade with Manila, miniature painting, silversmithing in Latin America, and bas-relief carving in indigenous media yield new information. With 200 color photographs, many of them not previously published, this elegant 176-page book, printed in Italy, is the result of 40 years of research, correspondence, interviews, travel, and writing. A glossary, an index, and an extensive bibliography accompany the text. Fresco Books of Albuquerque published Relicarios in September 2020. This handsome book is now available from Pachamama, 4829 Corrales Road in the Casa Perea Art Space, tel. 505-503-7636, or from the bookseller of your choice.
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