Seeing Through Stone: Materiality and Place in a Scottish Pendant Reliquary By Karen Overbey

https://www.academia.edu/34835129/Seeing_Through_Stone_Materiality_and_Place_in_a_Scottish_Pendant_Reliquary?nav_from=bf6c1cb9-65fb-4bdf-b4c4-04e6c986ea23 This paper explores the relationship between materiality, representation, and the mediating role of reliquaries in the context of a Scottish pendant reliquary from around 1200, which contains a fragment of the True Cross. The analysis highlights how the materials used, such as rock crystal and pearls, enhance the spiritual and physical significance of the relic, invoking themes of purity, faith, and transformation. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of medieval attitudes toward relics and their presentation, emphasizing the importance of the materials in shaping the viewer's perception. ...