Oval glass-fronted brass pendant reliquary theca housing the first-class relics of two Christian Martyr saints: Saint Mary of Escalos de Arribaand Saint Candida of Rome. The relics are affixed to a red silk ground surrounded by silver wire and gilt paperolle ornamentation and identified in Latin on manuscript cedulae labels as S. Mariae Esc. // S. Candidae M. (Saint Mary of Escalos// Saint Candida, Martyr). On the back, the theca is secured by a perfectly preserved seal of red Spanish wax bearing an imprint with a coat of arms of Fr. Antonio Cantoni (†1781), Bishop of Faenza, Italy (1742–1767) and Archbishop of Ravenna, Italy (1767–1781).
Saint Candida of Rome was one of a group of martyrs slain on the Ostian Way outside the gates of Rome. Candida's remains are enshrined in St. Praxedes church, and were blessed by Pope St. Pasehal I in the ninth century. The exact date of her death is not known, and her Feastday is commemorated on August 29.
St. Mary of Escalos de Arriba (†c. 12th century) was a Spanish virgin martyr from Escalos de Arriba, near Astorga, León. Devoted to a life of chastity, she fled to a hermitage to escape a forced marriage. Pursued by her suitor’s men, she was beheaded, earning her the title of martyr for purity. Canonized through popular acclaim, her relics are enshrined in the Church of Santa María de Escalos de Arriba. Her feast day is August 28, and she is invoked for chastity and protection against coerced unions.