Ca. 1100-1300 AD A finely modelled reliquary cross composed of three parts: two crosses that fit together, a large loop for suspension, and a hinged base. Made of bronze, it is decorated with the image of Christ with his arms outstretched on one side; the other side is decorated with a standing human figure. Each side depicts busts of saints in roundels. This type of cross could open and was made to hold a small relic or a prayer document. Relics, as the physical remains of saints or objects associated with Christ, held tremendous power in medieval Christianity. Such crosses were worn by the knights who fought in the Holy Lands. For more information on reliquary crosses, see Boas, A. J. (2016). Crusader Archaeology - The Material Culture of the Latin East. Taylor & Francis, 158. Size: L:94mm / W:56mm ; 56.46g Provenance: Private UK collection; From an old London collection formed in the 1990s.