Rare 17th C Whalebone Reliquary 50 Relic St Urban I, Sixtus I, Pontianus Spoleto

Rare example of "whalebone" reliquary made in the Holy Roman Empire and Spanish Flanders (low countries) with 50 First Class Holy Relics of Martyr Saints present, which are:
 
Side A
Saint Urban I – Pope & Martyr
Saint Sixtus I - Pope & Martyr
Saint Lucy - Martyr
Saint Narcissus - Martyr
Saint Capituli – Martyr ?
Saint Larqi - Martyr
Saint Probi - Martyr
Saint Darius - Martyr
Saint Tigrini - Martyr
(15 Saints on the rim hard to decipher)
 
Side B
Saint Fermo - Martyr
Saint Tiburni - Martyr
Saint Maximi - Martyr
Saint Paulillus - Martyr
Saint Paulina (Paolina) - Martyr
Saint Sabani - Martyr
Saint Reanuli - Martyr ?
Saint Julia - Martyr
Saint Leonis - Martyr
Saint Justa - Martyr
Saint Pontianus of Spoleto – Martyr
(15 Saints on the rim hard to decipher)
 
Description:
Rare baleen plate* ("whalebone") Reliquary with the Holy Relics of many important Saints surrounded by paperolles** and silver bullion threads, resting on golden silk and presented as medallions. Which are placed in an intricate carved baleen plate frame and protected by hand carved rock crystal eyes.
 
*Baleen plate: 
Baleen is a filter-feeding system inside the mouths of baleen whales. To use baleen, the whale first opens its mouth underwater to take in water. The whale then pushes the water out, and animals such as krill are filtered by the baleen and remain as a food source for the whale. Baleen is similar to bristles and consists of keratin, the same substance found in human fingernails, skin and hair.
People formerly used baleen (usually referred to as "whalebone") for making numerous items where flexibility and strength were required, including baskets, backscratchers, collar stiffeners, buggy whips, parasol ribs, switches, crinoline petticoats, farthingales, busks, and corset stays. It was commonly used to crease paper; its flexibility kept it from damaging the paper. It was also occasionally used in cable-backed bows. Synthetic materials are now usually used for similar purposes, especially plastic and fiberglass. Baleen was also used by Dutch cabinetmakers for the production of pressed reliefs.
 
** Paperolle:
Artisanal technique of wrapping narrow strips of paper to create various forms and ornamental patterns. The paperolle is a very old technique used in the Middle Ages, in poor churches, to imitate gold or silver filigree decorations. The achievements were often reliquaries called reliquary to paperolles. Paperolle is a term derived from paper. It designates not only the technique, but also the realization in paper. The term rolled papers is sometimes used as a synonym.

Condition report:
This exceptional reliquary is in outstanding condition given the delicacy of the material used as frame. 3 rock crystal eyes missing and 1 replaced with modern glass. One of the sides rock crystals was replaced with XIX glass.
Provenance
German private collection
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