The shift of paradigm when religious art works become heritage: the dilemma of material vs immaterial significance. An overview of portuguese reliquaries and mural paintings

The 21st century introduced new perspectives on the contents and meaning of “cultural heritage”. By shifting the focus of conservation heritage from material to intangible aspects, the theoretical debate carried new approaches and challenges on its conservation. The 1989 CCI Code of Ethics defined “cultural property” as those objects having “cultural or religious significance” assuming their communicative function, as does the American Institute for Conservation (AIC). In this sense, “objects” (according to Barbara Applebaum’s interpretation) do not matter for what they are (materiality - historical or artistic truths), but for their meaning, their usefulness and communicative functions. This clearly refers to the immaterial or intangible aspects of heritage (Muñoz Viñas, 2003) and as immaterial values matter they should be incorporated in conservation issues. But how do we maintain the intangible issues of an object that, during its lifetime, lost their original function and significance?