Oval silver pendant reliquary theca housing the first-class ex ossibus (of a bone) relic of Saint Louis, King of France. A relic is affixed to a gilt paper starburst on a silk ground surrounded by silver wire and gilt paperolle ornamentation and identified in Latin on a manuscript cedula label as Ex Oss. S. Ludovici Reg, Gall. (of a bone of Saint Louis, King of France). On the back, the theca is secured with a seal of red Spanish wax bearing an imprint of a coat of arms of Monsignor Giovanni Lercari (†1802), Titular Archbishop of Hadrianopolis in Haemimonto (1760–1767), and Archbishop of Genova (1767–1802). The relic is accompanied by the original matching authentics document issued and sealed by the order of Bishop Lercari in 1767 on the authority of Pope Clement XIII (p. 1758-1769)
Louis IX (†1270), commonly known as Saint Louis, was King of France and a canonized saint. Pope Boniface VIII proclaimed the canonization of Louis in 1297. Louis IX is the only French king to be declared a saint, and often considered the model of the ideal Christian monarch. The impact of his canonization was so great that many of his successors were named Louis. Named in his honor, the Sisters of Charity of St. Louis is a Roman Catholic religious order founded in Vannes, France, in 1803. A similar order, the Sisters of St Louis, was founded in 1842. He is honored as co-patron of the Third Order of St. Francis, which claims him as a member of the Order. He is also a holy patron of France, French monarchy, Archdiocese of New Orleans, hairdressers; and lacemakers.