Saint Calminius Reliquary

The Saint Calminius Reliquary is a wooden container roughly 81 centimeters long, decorated with fourteen copper plaques featuring intricate champlevé enamel work. The hand-crafted metalwork displays detailed scenes and patterns that demonstrate medieval craftsmanship at its finest.

Saint Calminius was a wealthy nobleman from Clermont who founded three monasteries in the sixth century, including Mozac Abbey. The reliquary was created to hold his remains and served as a focal point for devotion within that religious community.

The copper plaques tell the story of Saint Calminius and his wife Namadie through detailed medieval enameling. These religious artworks reflect how people honored important figures in their community through visual storytelling.

The reliquary is now housed at Musée Dobrée where it is displayed under controlled conditions for preservation and public viewing. From here you can examine the fine details of the metalwork and enameling up close.

During the French Revolution, a local resident named Jean Ozenne rescued the reliquary from destruction and theft through a bold act of protection. This secret rescue ensured the precious object survived a turbulent period in history intact.