Beautiful antique French canivet envelope. This is a canivet relic that would hold a holy card. A "canivet" is an art form associated with small holy pictures, and it probably originated in France in the 13th century or thereabouts. With this craft, holy images are created through needlework using chromo, textiles, and a range 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 expressions of Christian faith and spiritual exercises, going beyond prayers. Today, it is commonplace, and we might call it a flat mixed-media piece.
This piece is beyond stunning and measures 4.25" x 2". This is the first one I have seen in this good of condition. time passes, these will become increasingly difficult to find.
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