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

Evening Prayers

Fenner, Alice Cranston
Date:
1940s CE
Medium:
plaster, wax
Tradition:
Christian
Place of Origin:
New Preston
Repository:
Private Collection.
Subject:
Prayer
Keywords:
Sculpture, Devotion, Children, Prayer, Text, Chalkware
Nativity Home Shrine

Date:
mid 20th century CE
Medium:
plaster, wood, glass
Tradition:
Roman Catholic
Repository:
Private Collection.
Keywords:
Sculpture, Home Altar, Shrine, Nativity, Altar, Chalkware
Domestic Altar

Pennsylvania Statuary Company Incorporated
Date:
1928 CE
Medium:
plaster, paint
Tradition:
Roman Catholic
Place of Origin:
Pennsylvania
Repository:
Private Collection.
Keywords:
Sculpture, Chalkware, Crucifix, Sacred Heart, Home Altar, Altar
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux

Medium:
plaster, paint
Tradition:
Roman Catholic
Repository:
Private Collection.
Subject:
Saint Thérèse of Lisieux
Keywords:
Sculpture, Bust, Saints, Nuns, Chalkware
DaPrato 1929 catalog

A. DaPrato Company
Date:
1929 CE
Medium:
paper, ink, catalogs
Tradition:
Roman Catholic, Protestant
Place of Origin:
Boston
Repository:
Private Collection.
Keywords:
Plasterware, Magazine, Commercial, Chalkware, Catalog, Text
Praying Hands on Bible plaque

Medium:
plaster, acrylic paint
Tradition:
Protestant
Repository:
Private Collection.
Subject:
Prayer
Keywords:
Bible, Book, Sculpture, Hand-painted, Chalkware
Perhaps Today plaque

Date:
ca. 1920-1940 CE
Medium:
plaster, religious texts
Tradition:
Protestant
Repository:
Private Collection.
Keywords:
Inspiration, Text, Chalkware
House of St. George (Biete Ghiorgis)

Date:
12th century CE
Medium:
living rock, architecture
Tradition:
Orthodox
Place of Origin:
Lalībela
Repository:
Wikimedia Commons
Keywords:
Rock-hewn, Cruciform, New Jerusalem, Saint George, Pilgrimage, Architecture
Altar to Exu Abre-Cancelas (Exu Who Opens the Gates), with staff

Date:
1989 CE
Medium:
iron, ceramic, pigment, wax, modified plant material, feather
Tradition:
Candomblé
Place of Origin:
Brazil
Keywords:
Entry, Sacrifice, Ritual, Orixa, Exu, Altar
Altar to Ogum and to the hunter gods Logunede and Oxossi

Jocelinha, Mai
Date:
1983 CE
Medium:
ceramic, iron, cloth, antler
Tradition:
Candomblé
Place of Origin:
Cosme de Farias
Keywords:
Òjá, Ogum, Orixa, Devotion, Textile, Altar
Love Never Faileth plaque

Date:
1939 CE
Medium:
plaster, religious texts
Tradition:
Protestant
Place of Origin:
Toronto
Repository:
Private Collection
Keywords:
Sculpture, Bible, Love, Scripture, Text, Chalkware
Child Jesus with John the Baptist

Date:
late 19th century CE
Medium:
plaster
Tradition:
Roman Catholic
Place of Origin:
France
Repository:
Private Collection.
Keywords:
Animals, Devotion, Lamb, Christ, John the Baptist, Sculpture