Catholic votive offering, embossed with image of hand and arm

Catholic votive offering, recycled metal plaque embossed with image of hand and arm, unknown maker, Bangalore, India, 2014.

Votive offerings are those left in sacred places to ask for, or express gratitude for, healing. They are often made in the shape of the affected body part. Some are bespoke pieces, cast in expensive metals such as bronze. Others are mass-produced from cheaper materials such as terracotta, wax or tin. Although it originated in earlier cultures, the phenomenon thrived in Ancient Roman Italy between 400 and 100 BC. It persists today in many faiths, including Christianity and Hinduism.