Shoe Reliquary
Not on view
Scenes of the life of Saint Margaret decorate this case, which was probably intended to hold a foot-shaped reliquary of precious material. Near the lock plate, the saint bursts free from the body of a dragon that had swallowed her. Because she overcame the ordeal unharmed, women suffering the pains of childbirth turned to Saint Margaret in prayer; it has been suggested that the loop at the back of this case would have allowed the reliquary to be suspended over an expectant woman’s bed.
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