Austrian Crown Jewels - The Ecclesiastical Treasury

The Ecclesiastical Treasury

The Ecclesiastical Treasury (also known in German as Geistliche Schatzkammer) contains various pieces such as crosses, altars, reliquaries, icons, holy statues, and other items that were used for prayer by the court and the Habsburgs. The collection is very vast, so that only a couple of items are shown regularly, the rest in cycles.

• The Reliquary Cross of King Louis the Great of Hungary is a beautiful double-cross made out of gold with silver-gilt, enamel, and precious stones. In it, pieces of the True Cross of Christ are said to be preserved under rock-crystal. This reliquary cross used to belong to King Louis of Hungary, and was probably produced either in Hungary or Naples, probably between 1370 and 1382.

• There is a House Altar of Jasper, made by Ottavio Miseroni in Prague, probably around 1620.

• Reliquary with a Nail from the Cross, made in Augsburg in mid-17th century.

• Feather Picture of the Virgin Mary made by the Tarascan Indian artist Juan Baptiste Cuiris in Michoacán (Pátzcuaro), Mexico, around 1550-1580. It is a picture of the Virgin Mary, made completely out of sparkling Hummingbird and parrot feathers. The Mexican Indian artists from Amentaca were famous for their traditional skills in producing art out of feathers. There are all in all seven feather-pictures in the treasury, making it the largest collection of such specific items. It belonged to the collection of emperor Rudolf II.

• The Ainkhürn (horn of a unicorn) is a curious piece that deserves mention. Originally thought to be the horn of a unicorn, it was considered more valuable than gold, since magical healing powers were ascribed to it. The hilt of a sword was made from it, as well as a tankard. In reality, the horn probably came from a Narwhal.

• The Achatschale (Agate bowl) is a bowl whose inscriptions are said to refer to Jesus Christ. It was even at one time regarded as the Holy Grail.