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Prayer Nut with Scenes from the Life of St. James the Greater
Adam Dirckszc. 1500–1530
The Cleveland Museum of Art
Cleveland, United States
Prayer nuts or "paternosters" are generally made from boxwood and carved with extreme refinement and delicacy with openwork Gothic tracery. They came into fashion as private devotional accessories in the Netherlands in about 1500 to 1530. About 50 prayer nuts are still known to survive.
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Details
- Title: Prayer Nut with Scenes from the Life of St. James the Greater
- Creator: Adam Dircksz (Netherlandish, active c. 1500), Workshop
- Date Created: c. 1500–1530
- Physical Dimensions: Overall: 5.8 x 4.8 cm (2 5/16 x 1 7/8 in.)
- Type: Sculpture
- Rights: CC0
- External Link: https://clevelandart.org/art/1961.87
- Medium: boxwood
- Inscriptions: Interior around lower half: SANCTVS SACRILEGI STAT IVDICIS ANTE TRIBVNAL (Holiness stands before the throne of the profane judge), Interior, around upper half: GAVDENS PRO CRISTO IACOBVS SVBDIT CAPVT ENSI (St James submits his head to the sword)
- Fun Fact: This miniature masterpiece was held and caressed within the palm of the holder as they prayed and meditated on their faith. What do you use to focus or engage in quiet concentration?
- Department: Medieval Art
- Culture: Northern Netherlands (Holland)
- Credit Line: Purchase from the J. H. Wade Fund
- Collection: MED - Gothic
- Accession Number: 1961.87
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