A life-size bust-form reliquary dating to the 18th century made of silvered painted wood housing very large historically important first-class ex ossibus (of the bone) relic of Saint Paulina. The relic is affixed inside of an oval glass-fronted opening and identified on paper cedula label in as S. Paulinae, Virg. Mar. (Saint Paulina, Virgin & Martyr). On the back of the reliquary, the opening to access the relic cavity is protected by a red silk ribbon with three seals of red Spanish wax with an imprint of a coat of arms of Cardinal Marcantonio Colonna (†1793), Archpriest of the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore and Vicar General of the Roman Curia.
Saint Paulina (Paoline) of Rome (†302) was a pre-congregation Christian saint and martyr. She was the daughter of Saint Artemius of Rome and Saint Candida of Rome. She was brought to the faith by Saint Peter the Exorcist and baptized by Saint Marcellinus. She suffered her martyrdom during the Diocletian persecution in 302 when she was buried alive under a pile of stones. Saint Paulina's feast day is commemorated on June 6th.