Vergulde zilveren vaas en een monstrans, opgesteld op een tentoonstelling over religieuze objecten uit de middeleeuwen en renaissance in 1864 in Mechelen 1864

Joseph Maes made this photograph in 1864 in Mechelen, of a gilded silver vase and a monstrance, displayed at an exhibition of religious objects from the Middle Ages and Renaissance. These objects were made with processes such as metalworking, engraving, and gilding, all requiring a high degree of skill, labor, and time. The fact that the vase and monstrance are made of precious metals like silver and gold also reflects the opulence and power of the religious institutions that commissioned them. Consider the amount of work involved in creating the intricate details of the monstrance. These objects reflect a social hierarchy in which skilled artisans, like the silversmiths who created these pieces, were employed by religious institutions to produce objects that would inspire awe and reverence. By examining their materiality and methods of making, we can understand the importance of these objects in reflecting social, cultural, and religious values.