Zilveren reliekhouder afkomstig uit een kerk te Gazac before 1857

This is a photograph of a silver reliquary that once belonged to a church in Gazac, taken by Hippolyte Malègue. Reliquaries like this are often encountered in the context of religious devotion. But it’s also important to consider the broader social and historical role that objects like this have played in shaping cultural identity. How did objects like this function as part of the theatre of the church? What did it mean to see and experience such an object? This kind of silver object would have signified wealth, power, and divine favor, all at once. The craftsmanship involved also speaks to the identities and labor of the artisans who created it. Whose labor went into its creation, and how were they positioned socially and economically? Consider how such objects reinforced traditional power structures, but also inspired personal and communal spiritual experiences.