Minding the Gap: The St. Thomas Reliquary from Mylapore

Abstract The reliquary in question here has disappeared. It was created in the second half of the sixteenth century, and the only extant photographs of it make clear that it is an object of great significance. This article emphasizes the importance of considering not only existing objects but also the voids and losses in our understanding of global material culture. The reliquary was made for a site in Mylapore that had been a center of Christian worship since the fourth century, predating the Portuguese arrival in India. It has an intriguing story, intertwined with the Syrian Church, then in charge of the St. Thomas Christians in India. The reliquary is a unique blend of Christian, Islamic, and Hindu artistic elements and reflects the complex cultural and religious context of the time. Its origin and production remain uncertain, with possibilities ranging from local craftsmanship in Goa to creation in Cochin or Mylapore.