Monstrance, 14th-15th century
The monstrance is a liturgical object – that is, an object used during church services. It was intended to display the Host, the consecrated communion bread, to the congregation. The Hose was placed in a crescent-shaped holder and protected by glass. The vessel would be made of precious metal or gilded as it was considered to be in contact with the body of Jesus.
After the Reformation, when Sweden became Protestant instead of Catholic, there was no further need for monstrances and many of them were lost in confiscations. They are still used in the Catholic Church.
