Drie gedecoreerde bisschoppelijke staven, opgesteld op een tentoonstelling over religieuze objecten uit de middeleeuwen en renaissance in 1864 in Mechelen 1864

Joseph Maes took this photograph of three decorated bishop staffs that were on display during an exhibition of religious objects from the Middle Ages and Renaissance in Mechelen in 1864. The staffs feature different processes. Some appear to be cast, others wrought or forged, and then chased with fine detail. These are not just functional items, but rather objects which took an immense amount of labor and time to create, requiring the skills of goldsmithing and decorative metalworking. It's important to consider the high level of artistry and craftsmanship required to create these staffs, as this speaks volumes about the status and authority of the bishops who would have carried them. These objects embody more than just religious faith, reflecting hierarchical power. They challenge the traditional separation between art and craft, showing how both can be intertwined to create objects of beauty and meaning.