Reliquaries were usually portable objects made to contain relics (the bones, hair or parts of clothing) belonging to a saint. Sometimes reliquaries would be made in the shape of the relic, for example, an arm or a foot. Church-shaped Reliquaries are quite common and this example displays the typical decoration of those made in the 12th Century.

The main body is enamelled copper in blues, greens, yellow and white. The sides and the lid are decorated with narrative panels about the Coronation of the Virgin and St. Peter.

The apex of its 'roof' is decorated with oval semi-precious stones and crosses. The motifs used to decorate the spaces between the panels are stylised geometric shapes, scrolls and crosses.

In Medieval times most people were god-fearing and worshipping saints was a vital part of saving your soul. Many believed that touching a relic would cure an illness and on occasion reliquaries would be stolen so that the relic inside could be divided into as many pieces as possible and sold. A consequence of this was that many more body part relics appeared than it was physically possible to have and church leaders had to insist on documentation (proof) of a relic's history.

In the 21st Century the religious significance of reliquaries has lessened and they are regarded more for their importance as historical artefacts or attractive objects.