Saint Barbara reliquary in the shape of a sarcophagus

This XVIIth-century wooden reliquary was made by an Antwerp artist
It was commissioned by Antwerp alderman François-Paulin van Brouckhoven and financed by the guild of tailors who had renamed the former chapel of the Garnier family a chapel dedicated to Saint Barbara. François van Brouckhoven was the direct heir of Flaminius Garnier, whose funerary monument is in the left aisle of the church at the back.

Brouckhoven was given the dignity of provost of the Confraternity of Saint Barbara in the Sablon. His inscription in the register is displayed in one of the showcases. The reliquary is in the form of a sarcophagus resting on four lions’ paw feet.

In the middle, the crenelated tower symbolises the prison where Saint Barbara was held. The central medallion-shaped section is used to hold the relics. The upper part shows Saint Barbara holding a palm of martyrhood in her left hand.

In the southern transept, the church also has a fine painting by Quellin the Elder depicting the beheading of Saint Barbara by her father.

Next to the painting is a statue of Saint Barbara.