Earthly Treasures: Material Culture and Metaphysics in the Heptameron and Evangelical Narrative

Earthly Treasures maps the presence, position and use in the narrative of a variety of material objects in Marguerite de Navarre’s Heptameron . There is a wide selection of objects, ranging from tapestries with scripture passages woven into the borders, fine arts paintings, chalices incised with proverbs, emblems, table linens, copies of Bibles or manuscripts, clothing, masks, stage props, jewelry, furniture and foodstuffs. Although the presence of such material objects seems paradoxical, given the scriptural mandate to disregard things of this world, and to store up treasure , rather, in heaven, Marguerite found license to use such objects both in the Bible and in the daily life-oriented and artifact-studded sermons and writings collected in the Table Talk of Martin Luther .