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Seeing the sacred conflicting priorities in defining, interpreting, and conserving western sacred artifacts

ABSTRACT This article explores issues in defining, interpreting, and preserving sacred artifacts—mainly those from the Christian traditions—within the museum. It examines the potentially conflicting priorities of museum categorization and concepts of the sacred in relation to changing understandings of the sacred and sacred artifacts among museum visitors. Changing approaches to exhibiting sacred artifacts are discussed. The article focuses particularly on the relationship of contemporary concepts and practices of museum conservation and how these interact with objects considered as sacred. Case studies include the London National Gallery's 2000 exhibition Seeing Salvation and the British Museum's Treasures of Heaven (2010–2011).