Ship of Fools: Statuary in a Glass Case

Thread: Statuary in a Glass Case Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

I know this isn't strictly speaking an Eccles subject but one of my students has been asking me if there is a specific word in English for the glass cases in which statues of the BVM or other saints stand and I thought the quickest place to get an answer would be here - I have no idea of the answer and would be pathetically grateful for any help given.

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

The only word i can think of is 'weird' or, perhaps, 'twee'.

Posted by Jengie Jon (# 273) on :

You mean like this. OK I knew these existed from my one and only visit to Lourdes.

They are the exception rather than the rule. The Virgin Mary is in Holy Water. I have no idea why!

Jengie

Posted by Triple Tiara (# 9556) on :

More likely like this.

It's a particular stylistic taste, not confined to religious items, and quite beloved of the Victorians, the French and Filippinos. All sorts of trinkets come in such domes, such as these or this French wedding dome.

Purpose: to keep the dust out.

Posted by Quam Dilecta (# 12541) on :

Vitrine, the French word for a glass case, has been borrowed by English speakers, and it somehow seems to be an appropriate term for these items. In the case of statues with silk robes, a glass enclosure offers some protection from sunlight and dust. The most dramatic instances of this practice are the altars where a saints' embalmed body is displayed behind glass.

Posted by The Silent Acolyte (# 1158) on :

Ooooooo. Good catch, that, Quam Dilecta. We certainly knew you were clever. Now that you remind me of this word, I recall that it is frequently used of glass display cases in museums, too.

Posted by Lietuvos Sv. Kazimieras (# 11274) on :

I failed to locate a photo of it, but at least back in the mid-1970s, the Basilica of Santa Teresa in Caracas, Venezuela had a wax effigy of the head/face of Christ in Agony set in the narthex -- it was more in a glass box than in a typical vitrine.

In the early 1980s I recall an Episcopal parish church in Baltimore - otherwise quite traditional in appearances - that had the MBS reserved in what appeared to be a square,clear plastic box on, IIRC, a side altar.

Posted by Pancho (# 13533) on :

I don't know of a specific word for it in English, but we have a couple of statues under glass at my parish.

quote:
Originally posted by leo:
The only word i can think of is 'weird' or, perhaps, 'twee'.

Actually, there are several practical reasons for keeping statues in a glass case.

It keeps them in good condition if they're physically venerated (We have an exposed statue of St. Anthony whose paint on it's foot was worn away from all the veneration). It discourages ne'er-do-wells from walking away with statues ( there are reports of churches in Latin America who have their images stolen to be sold on the antiques' black market). It keeps them clean in dusty old churches. It helps keep them from getting knocked over by jostling crowds. If they're taken out in procession it protects them from the elements. There could be other reasons, too.

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :

All of those reasons make sense in India, pancho. Especially when it comes to statues of S. Anthony who is venerated by both the Christians and the Hindus.

We won't even start on Our Lady of Velankanni.

Posted by PeteC (# 10422) on :

Wanted to add that we are not talking of statues of the type in TT's first link. Ours are extra-life size and are stood in a vertical coffin. It occurs to me that one of the functions of these is to hide the altar servers and their antics from view. Though when they are actually serving,their pious attitudes, nicely synchronised, are a joy to behold.

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

Thanks to all - I shall offer the word Vitrine and feel I have done my bit.

Triple Tiara, some of those items you linked to were positively,er, interesting.

Posted by Welease Woderwick (# 10424) on :

Sorry, thanks to the Eccles Hosts for permitting this little digression - please feel free to close this whenever you wish.

Posted by seasick (# 48) on :

Thank you all very much.

seasick, Eccles host

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