Material Objects Archive

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Objects, images, and a proliferation of materialities engage bodies and minds, events and ideas, in ways both profound and subtle. Material objects, especially as they are activated in religious practices broadly conceived, are situated at the heart of MAVCOR. This Material Objects Archive offers an ever-expanding online gallery of such objects. We invite you to use it as a tool for thinking and teaching, researching and writing—and we welcome your suggestions and contributions to this collaborative enterprise.

In 2017, MAVCOR initiated the MAVCOR Digital Spaces Project, documenting sacred spaces via 360º panorama (360s) and high resolution giga-pixel (Zooms) photography. You can view all Digital Spaces Project 360s and Zooms here, or you can check the appropriate box in the Material Objects Archive search to view affiliated material objects.

Material Objects

Rituals at Hazrat Tawakkal Mastan Dargah, Bengalaru

Date:
2001 CE
Tradition:
Islamic
Place of Origin:
Bangalore
Keywords:
Ritual, Mosque, Dargah, India, Namaz, Prayer, Healing, Breath, Amulets
Serafino da Cortona's Flying Fish

Cortona, Serafino da
Date:
1711
Medium:
ink, paper, drawing
Tradition:
Capuchin
Repository:
Archivio provinciale dei Cappuccini, Florence
Keywords:
Kongo, Angola, Nature, Fish, Capuchin
Royaume De Congo

Date:
1656
Repository:
David Rumsey Map Collection
Keywords:
Map, Kongo, Angola, Rivers, Atlantic
Duarte Lopes and Filippo Pigafetta, Relatione del reame di Congo et delle circonvicine contrade, tratta dalli scritti & ragionamenti di Odoardo Lopez, Portoghese

Bonifacio, Natale
Repository:
Biblioteca Nacional de Portugal
Keywords:
Kongo, Nature, Customs, Travel, Instruments
The Parma Watercolors

Date:
late seventeenth century
Medium:
watercolor, watercolor paper, watercolor painting
Tradition:
Capuchin
Place of Origin:
Congo (Republic of), Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Repository:
Virgili Collection (Bilioteca Estense Universitaria)
Keywords:
Kongo, Angola, History, Nature, Capuchin
Girolamo Merolla da Sorrento and Angelo Piccardo, Breve, e svccinta relatione del viaggio nel regno di Congo nell' Africa meridionale

Date:
1692
Repository:
Melville J. Herskovits Library of African Studies and Houghton Library.
Keywords:
Kongo, Missionary, Angola, Architecture, Nature
Giovanni Antonio Cavazzi and Fortunato Alamandini, Istorica descrizione

Lorena, Paolo da, Alamandini, Fortunato
Date:
1687
Tradition:
Capuchin
Place of Origin:
Italy
Repository:
Getty Research Institute
Keywords:
Kongo, Angola, Missionary, Capuchin, Crucifix
Of the People, Victuals, Customs, Animals, and Fruits of the Kingdoms of Africa

Date:
1652-1663
Medium:
ink, paper
Tradition:
Capuchin
Repository:
Museo Francescano, Istituto storico dei Cappuccini
Subject:
Atlas of food and customs of Kongo and Angola
Keywords:
Kongo, Angola, Capuchin, Ritual, History
The Araldi Manuscript

Cavazzi, Giovanni Antonio
Date:
1665-1668
Medium:
watercolor, watercolor paper, ink, paper, watercolor painting
Tradition:
Capuchin
Repository:
Gallerie Estensi, Biblioteca Estense Universitaria, Modena
Keywords:
Njinga, Angola, Ndongo, Tobacco, Drum
Frontispiece to Antonio da Gaeta and Francesco Maria Gioia, "La maravigliosa conversione alla santa fede di Cristo"

Miotte, Pierre
Date:
1669
Repository:
Houghton Library, Harvard University
Keywords:
Crucifix, Kongo, Angola, Missionary, Capuchin
Image of the Virgin in Ignacio Carnago, "Cittá di Rifugio"

Lorena, Paolo da
Date:
1665
Tradition:
Capuchin
Repository:
Convento di Santa Maria dei Frati Cappuccini del Bigorio (Svizzera)
Keywords:
Immaculate Conception, Virgin, Virgin Mary
"The Father Missionary Celebrates Mass" in Bernardino d'Asti, Missione in Prattica

Asti, Bernardino d'
Date:
ca. 1750
Medium:
watercolor, paper, watercolor painting
Tradition:
Capuchin
Repository:
Biblioteca Civica Centrale di Torino
Keywords:
Catholic, Mass, Missionary, Kongo, Angola