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Curator of South and Southeast Asian art John Guy on how relics help him understand the very beginnings of great traditions.
I'm John Guy, I'm the curator for India and southeast Asia here at the Met. My topic is "Relics."
I connect relics and ritual strongly in my mind. I'd have to take that back to my boyhood years when I served as an altar
boy in a rather High Church of England, serving at altar, officiating
with communion. I found that whole process so formal and so structured. It was required that
you would not take breakfast before presenting communion. On occasions, I found myself slipping to the floor with a momentary lapse of consciousness.
So concerned with otherworldly things, things beyond the mundane. It formulated my mind very early that
objects had enormous power. The communion cup and the tray become the catalyst for this
transmigration. I think it's set my mind on this path and made me receptive to when I came across other powerful objects.
I've devoted most of my professional working life to the ancient arts of the Hindu/Buddhist world. That's necessitated extensive travel.
And that in itself gives further opportunities to go to these great places which just resonate.
I have a little mantra that I operate by, which is I will not lecture or speak about a place that I've not
been to. I think it's terribly important to have actually experienced the place, even if what is there today is a mere shadow or if there's even very little trace of what made this place important a thousand years ago. The issue of the
container versus the contents in reliquaries is a very interesting one. Some of the medieval objects were
expressly made to enshrine a physical part of the body of a saint. It might be the forearm and hand
or it may be a skull. And these were literal encasements.
They mimicked the form of the bodily part. The containers themselves are very potent.
In the Indian world, the reliquaries are miniatures of architecture, in which relics of the Buddha and his disciples
were placed. You see the stupa, you see the Buddha. They're synonymous.
Even the teachings of the great figures in history becomes an object of worship
in its own right. If it had been used for study and citation
it would not be in this condition. Some of these
Indian stone relics, they often carry inscriptions indicating whose remains are contained in the relics. I had the privilege, recently, to speak a little to a group of monks. I recited
the names and there was this
which I think is extraordinary, and what makes them I think so immediate and
contemporary, is they wire you in, they wire you straight in, right back
to the point of the Buddha's death, right back to when the relics of
Christ were scattered across early Europe. You're right back into this, the very beginnings of great traditions.
People want to visit holy places because it will somehow enrich them and empower them. They will be cleansed or in
some other way benefit by making pilgrimage. And so you get an industry of pilgrim souvenirs.
These might be little tiny paintings. They might be little talismans.
The Mahabodi Temple at Botgaya is the place of enlightenment and these little models were made for those who could not make the pilgrimage
who were not physically able or prosperous enough. These would allow you to experience a little of that spiritual power.
Here in New York all roads lead to the Metropolitan Museum. It's kind of the modern day equivalent of a pilgrimage route. A Mecca for
the twenty first century.
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Works of art in order of appearanceLast Updated: June 22, 2015. Not all works of art in the Museum's collection may be on view on a particular day. For the most accurate location information, please check this page on the day of your visit. |
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Reliquary Cross ca. 1180 Made in Limoges, France Silver gilt, rock crystal, glass cabochons; wood core Purchase, Michel David-Weill Gift, The Cloisters Collection, and Mme. Robert Gras Gift, in memory of Dr. Robert Gras, 2002 (2002.18) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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Reliquary Shrine second quarter of 14th century Attributed to Jean de Touyl (French) Made in Paris Gilt-silver, translucent enamel, paint The Cloisters Collection, 1962 (62.96) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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![]() Medieval Art and The CloistersThe Cloisters at Fort Tryon Park |
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Stained-Glass Panel ca. 1245–1248 France, Tours, Ambulatory of the Cathedral of Saint-Gatien Pot-metal glass and vitreous paint The Cloisters Collection, 1937 (37.173.3) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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![]() Medieval Art and The CloistersThe Cloisters at Fort Tryon Park |
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Reliquary Casket with Scenes from the Martyrdom of Saint Thomas Becket ca. 1173–1180 English or German Silver with niello, gemstone Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 (17.190.520) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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Chalice, Paten, and Straw ca. 1230–1250 German Silver, partly gilded; niello, jewels The Cloisters Collection, 1947 (47.101.26–29) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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The "Antioch Chalice" first half of 6th century Byzantine; Made in Antioch or Kaper Koraon (?) Silver, silver-gilt The Cloisters Collection, 1950 (50.4) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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Section of a Portable Linga with Shiva and Parvati 7th century India (Jammu and Kashmir, ancient kingdom of Kashmir) Chlorite Samuel Eilenberg Collection, Gift of Samuel Eilenberg, 1987 (1987.142.66) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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Bodhisattva Avalokitesvara Expounding the Dharma to a Devotee: Folio from a Ashtasahasrika Prajnaparamita Sutra Manuscript Pala period, 12th century Mahavihara Master (Bengali) Opaque watercolor on palm leaf Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 2001 (2001.445f) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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Reliquary Bust of Saint Juliana ca. 1376 Circle of Giovanni di Bartolo (Italian) Copper, gilding, gesso, and tempera paint The Cloisters Collection, 1961 (61.266) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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Reliquary Arm ca. 1230 South Netherlandish Silver over oak; hand: bronze-gilt; appliqué plaques: silver-gilt, niello and cabochon stones The Cloisters Collection, 1947 (47.101.33) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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![]() Medieval Art and The CloistersThe Cloisters at Fort Tryon Park |
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Reliquary Bust of Saint Yrieix second quarter of 13th century France, Limousin, Church of Saint-Yrieix-la-Perche Gilded silver, rock crystal, gems, glass, originally over walnut core with silver leaf and gesso on interior Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 (17.190.352a,b) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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Reliquary in the Shape of a Stupa (Relic Mound) ca. 4th–5th century Pakistan (ancient region of Gandhara) Bronze Gilded copper, rock crystal, glass, and parchment Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Donald J. Bruckmann, 1985 (1985.387a, b) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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Bon Stupa ca. 15th century Tibet Gilt-copper alloy Lent by Anthony d'Offay (SL.20.2010.3.11) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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Bookcover with scenes from the life of the Buddha ca. first half of 10th century India or Nepal Ink and color on wood, with metal insets Gift of The Kronos Collections and Mr. and Mrs. Peter Findlay, 1979 (1979.511) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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Inscribed Reliquary, Donated by King Indravarman 5–6 a.d. Pakistan (ancient region of Gandhara, Bajaur) Schist Samuel Eilenberg Collection, Gift of Samuel Eilenberg, 1987 (1987.142.70a, b) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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Inscribed Reliquary, Donated by Ramaka 1st century a.d. Pakistan (ancient region of Gandhara, Bajaur) Schist Samuel Eilenberg Collection, Gift of Samuel Eilenberg, 1987 (1987.142.71a, b) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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Reliquary Qing dynasty (1644–1911), Qianlong period (1736–95) China Cloisonné enamel and bronze Bequest of Edward G. Kennedy, 1932 (33.40.67) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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Reliquary Figure 19th–20th century Kota peoples; Gabon Wood, copper, brass Purchase, The Michael C. Rockefeller Memorial Collection, Bequest of Nelson A. Rockefeller, by exchange, 1983 (1983.18) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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Death of the Historical Buddha (Nehan) Kamakura period (1185–1333), 14th century Unidentified artist Kyoto, Japan Hanging scroll; ink, gold, and color on silk Rogers Fund, 1912 (12.134.10) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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Tower Reliquary with Eight Apostles and the Symbols of the Four Evangelists ca. 1200–1250 Made in Cologne, Germany Ivory, gilt copper alloy, wood core Gift of J. Pierpont Morgan, 1917 (17.190.230a, b) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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The Journey of the Magi ca. 1435 Sassetta (Stefano di Giovanni) (Italian, Sienese) Tempera and gold on wood Maitland F. Griggs Collection, Bequest of Maitland F. Griggs, 1943 (43.98.1) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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Reliquary Pendant 1174–1177 English Gold Pulitzer Bequest Fund, 1963 (63.160) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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Model of the Mahabodhi Temple Pala period, 12th century India Stone Gift of John and Fausta Eskenazi, 2006 (2006.218) More information: The Collection Online Not on view
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