Title: Reliquary Casket with Scenes from the Martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket
Artist: Unknown,
British Culture
Date: ca.
1173–80
Medium: Gilded
silver with niello and a glass cabochon set over a tinted foil
Dimensions:
2 3/16 x 2 3/4 x 1 7/8 in. (5.5 x 7 x 4.7 cm) Other
(interior cavity overall): 1 5/16 × 2 9/16 × 1 7/16 in. (3.4 × 6.5 × 3.7 cm)
This casket is of British culture and is from ca. 1173-80. The box
was made for the English Saint, Thomas Becket. Thomas Becket was an Archbishop
of Canterbury and his death was the reason for the pilgrimage in The Canterbury Tales. He encountered
problems with King Henry II of England and was killed by 4 knights of the King’s
court in Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170 at twilight.
The subject of the casket, as stated, is Thomas Becket. This box
is meant to represent a narrative of his martyrdom. Each side of the box shows
different situations with the Archbishop. The idea is to show different parts of his
life, whether him being assaulted, or angels cradling a child which signifies a
saint’s soul rising to heaven. The casket can’t be considered a new treatment
of a traditional art theme. Because of the intricate designs, medium, overall
message, and style, this piece of art remains antique.
The artist uses the triangular lid at the top of the casket to deliver
a beautiful message of Thomas Becket’s soul rising to heaven. The lid itself is
just as unique as the message that is conveyed. It’s marron colored
diamond-like nature sophisticates the piece and adds a touch of color to the
otherwise gold and grayish color scheme. The artist uses human shapes to tell a
story and the people drawn on the casket are holding swords which could
demonstrate the brutality of Thomas Becket’s death. There is minimal light or
shine in the casket. The dreary and darker colors reinforce the meaning of the
work which demonstrates that this casket is a relic of the Archbishop and isn’t
something that should be shown as colorful or happy. There are several textural
techniques used on the casket’s rims and well as surrounding the triangular
lid. The texture adds depth to the piece which makes the purpose of the box
that much more important. I think that the media enhances the meaning of the
art because without these advancements, it would have been much harder to
gather information about Thomas Becket, his death, and the time in which the
casket was being made.
I think that the meaning of this piece is to memorialize someone
who had a significant impact on people and someone who was incredibly admired.
The delicacy of the work and the carefully placed details on the casket have
helped me to conclude the meaning of the piece. Other themes implied by the
artist is religion and the idea of good vs. evil or Heaven vs. Hell. The Angels
tell me that this was a time of Christianity and that people believed in and
worshiped God. The demeanors of the men
assaulting Thomas Becket show the idea of people being bad and people being
good, especially seeing as Thomas Becket seems to be surrendering— he has his
hands up as if in mercy. The artwork does make me consider these ideas in a new
way. I now see good and evil being associated with religion instead of it just
being related to a person’s personality and/or environment. Religion can
influence a person’s behavior and morality as seen on the casket as well as in
the context given below the image of the box. The title of the artwork
signifies that it has sentimental value and is an artifact from a historical
time. It also says that there are “scenes” or clips showing Thomas Becket,
whether being sacrificed or showing him in a positive light. This work does
have relevance to viewers today. Like with all history, this casket gives an
insight of the era and the things that were occurring around 1173. Anyone
interested in history, English, or anyone who enjoys antique facts would
appreciate the Reliquary Casket. When originally created, the box was a way to
mourn Thomas Becket while still having a piece of him “alive”. Today, it
signifies the history in England, the budding personalities of the King and
Archbishop and it is a way for us to see the flaws of English society which is
cause for value in today’s society. There is also value in the inscriptions of
the box. In the front: S TOMAS OCCIDIT (St. Thomas is killed); In the back:
T [INTUS] SANGUIS E [EST] S TOM[AS] (inside is the blood of St. Thomas). The
inscriptions give yet another layer for the casket and increases the art’s
value.
