Devocionálie jako předměty religiózní i dekorativní povahy

The primary function of devotionalia (religious objects) was once spiritual. For example, rosaries commonly served as personal facilitators of prayer for the devout from the 16th century until the 18th century. In addition, certain devotionalia, especially pendants, were designed to protect their wearers. These included amulets representing such holy objects as the tongue of St. John of Nepomuk, allegorical shapes such as bisam apples or those perceived as lending "spiritual" qualities to stones and pebbles, "birth bottles", glazed pictures of saints (miniature reliquaries), crosses large and small, and medallions of various shapes with a range of images. Some of these objects were of high artistic and financial value, while others were lowquality, often imitations; the difference often lay in the materials. The key issue was whether the owner wanted to display his or her social status, wealth and power, or whether the objects only had a personal (spiritual, symbolic) value and were not intended for others to see. Devotionalia thus had, apart from a spiritual purpose, social and decorative functions as well.