Vilnius (?), Central Europe, c. 1500-1503 

This oldest-surviving reliquary in Lithuania is of the so-called “speaking” reliquary type. Its shape speaks of the relic contained within – a part of a bone from the hand of Krakow bishop St Stanislaus is kept in it. The sapphire ring on a finger of the reliquary is thought to have once belonged to a bishop and to have been given as a votive offering to St Stanislaus. A 1503 document contained information that the reliquary holding St Stanislaus' arm used to be displayed for public veneration twice a year, on the occasion of the holy bishop's festivities on May 8th and September 27th.