Two Spanish carved parcel-gilt and polychrome painted reliquary busts of Virgin Martyrs 17th century The pair inscribed 'V.M.D. LAS OZE MIL' to the plinth bases, together with another of a female saint, the largest: 26cm wide, 16cm deep, 48.5cm high (10in wide, 6in deep, 19in high) (3) Footnotes: Provenance Christie's, London, A Townhouse in Seville, 8-29 October 2020, lot 12, where acquired This inscription on the plinths of the reliquary busts refers to the anonymous female saints believed to have belonged to Saint Ursula's retinue. According to medieval Christian tradition, Ursula was a British princess who, together with 11,000 virgin companions, was massacred by the Huns in Cologne, Germany, after refusing to renounce her faith or marry a pagan prince. The extraordinary number of supposed companions gave rise to a vast cult of anonymous virgin martyrs. During the Counter-Reformation, hundreds of reliquary busts representing these unnamed saints were produced across Catholic Europe for distribution among churches and religious institutions. For further information on this lot please visit Bonhams.com For further information about this lot please visit the lot listing