Gothic Boxwood Miniatures

Here is something that can be an inspiration for artists today: exquisite miniature 15th century carvings which would have been used as personal devotional holy images.

The scenes above are Christ Carrying His Cross; and the Crucifixion

While they are fascinating to see and one cannot help marvel at the skill of the wood carvers who created such objects, they can be something that we could have today. We are used to miniature crucifixes, but why not a personal pocket icon corner or reredos to inspire us as we pray the Liturgy of the Hours on the hoof? Below is the Adoration of the Magi and the Nativity.

They are in an exhibition of micro boxwood carvings of devotional art that is touring the country and currently is at the the Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, see here.  The exhibition will travel to both New York and Amsterdam after the Toronto stop.  You can see more of these prayer beads at the site advertising the exhibition, here.