Missal cover with the Ascension of the Virgin 1738

This Missal cover, depicting the Ascension of the Virgin, was made by David Roobol out of solid silver. You can immediately see the sheer amount of labor involved in creating such a heavy, ornately decorated object. The silver would have been painstakingly worked, probably through a combination of casting, chasing, and engraving, to achieve the high level of detail we see here. Notice the fine lines of the drapery, the delicate rendering of the angels' wings, and the overall sense of depth and movement. Silver, of course, has long been associated with wealth and status, and an object like this would have been commissioned by someone of considerable means. The cover transforms a functional book into a precious object, literally encasing the word of God in material riches. Consider the social context: the intense work and cost that went into this missal cover reflects the social hierarchy and religious devotion of the time. It is a powerful reminder that the meaning of an object is often deeply intertwined with the materials, making processes, and social forces that shaped its creation.