Tabernacle House Altar with the Adoration of the Shepherds, the Adoration of the Magi, and the Annunciation. 1550 - 1890

Reinhold Vasters crafted this Tabernacle House Altar out of wood, gold, and glass, a testament to 19th-century craftsmanship. The altar is a spectacle of verticality and detailed ornamentation, drawing the eye upward through its layered structure. The composition is rigorously symmetrical, with flanking columns supporting an arched pediment, which creates a hierarchical structure. The detailed figural scenes are set within this framework. Vasters masterfully employs contrasting textures and materials: the dark, polished wood against the bright, reflective gold creates a visual tension that enlivens the surface. This ornamental logic extends beyond mere decoration; the altar’s architectural form embodies theological concepts of ascension and divine order. It transforms the sacred stories into an experience, inviting contemplation on the interplay between the earthly and the divine. This symmetry and order is not just aesthetically pleasing, but a profound statement on the nature of belief and representation.