South American Reliquary ET

[Granmaa]

Does anyone recognise the maker's mark on this South American Reliquary which looks like ET with a sigma beneath. I imagine it's mid-19th century.

Miles

[silverly]

Interesting! It strikes me as a piece of mourning jewelry? What is the South American connection?

[Granmaa]

Hi silverly,

I should have put the size. It's about 15cm long and stands up on it's foot. It's much too heavy for a piece of jewellery. South American was just my best guess going by the decoration.

Miles

[silverly]

I have one meager reference that mentions seventeenth and eighteenth century memorial urns or caskets that would have been intended to contain locks of the deceased's hair. One in particular was 14 cm high. The idea of this being a mourning or memorial item is only a suggestion. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about this mark. Good luck with your research.

[silverly]

I'm sorry; you didn't need me to tell you what this article is. The word reliquary just didn't have a place in my vocabulary until today.