Facsimile of Platter with Biblical Scenes (German, late 16th century) c. 1900

Editor: Here we have a late 16th-century German platter, adorned with biblical scenes. It feels like a relic, a silent witness to history. What narratives do you see embedded within this object? Curator: I see a deliberate attempt to solidify power. Biblical scenes, especially in domestic objects, weren't merely decorative. They reinforced religious ideologies, often used to justify social hierarchies and patriarchal structures. Notice how the central crest suggests a family's self-importance, legitimized by divine association. Editor: So, it's less about faith and more about societal control? Curator: It's both, intertwined. Religion provided the framework for understanding the world, and objects like this played a role in shaping that understanding, maintaining the status quo. What do you make of its presentation now, in a museum? Editor: I hadn't thought of that. Being here detaches it from its intended social function, allowing a different reading. Curator: Exactly. It invites us to critically examine how art can perpetuate or challenge dominant narratives.