Beautiful antique Italian Canivet relic I purchased in Italy circa early 1800's. This is a relic of The Madonna and Child. A "canivet" card is an art connected to small holy pictures and it was probably born in France, in the 13th century or there abouts. With this craft, the holy pictures are realized in a sort of needlework using a chromo, textiles and a plethora of other materials. The French and Italians are famous for this type of art.
Works of art such as this were left almost exclusively to the hands of monks and nuns in medieval monasteries and convents. They used to craft them as an expression of Christian faith and spiritual exercise, going beyond prayers. Today it is common place and we might call this a flat mixed media piece.
This particular piece was most likely framed but the frame is long gone. It uses chromos, gold leaf embossed paper, cut paper jewels and silk. The dress on the Madonna is white and pink silk adorned with silver. The trim and head piece are gold embossed paper. There is green paper on the bottom cut into a fern. Below that there is writing which reads "ND de Lusse" or Notre-Dame de Lusse or "our Lady of Lusse".
This piece is beyond stunning and measures 5" x 2.75". As time passes these will only get harder and harder to find.
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