A reliquary is an object that contains relics. For Buddhists and Catholics, reliquaries have traditionally been made from costly metals and jewels, and they most often house the physical remains of saints or Buddhas. John T. Scott’s reliquary is a different kind of vessel for the sacred. Its form, cast from cutlery and a tiny model of a house, almost suggests a ship sailing forward or some kind of creature on legs. And rather than bones, teeth, or cremated remains of sometimes dubious authenticity, Scott’s object of veneration is everyday life. Here, a meal at home is precious and holy.

To receive a weekly summary of the MFAH 100 series rather than a daily email, please subscribe on my Substack blog The Impatient Reader.