Rosary Bead with Depiction of the Bearing of the Cross and the Crucifixion

When opened, this five-centimetre sphere reveals a small world of its own, meticulously carved with great care and attention to detail. The upper hemisphere portrays Christ’s Crucifixion. The lower half depicts Jesus passing through the gates of Jerusalem carrying his cross on his way to Calvary. The modest scale of this sphere, which was designed to be held in the hands, prompts the viewer to fully engage with the carved images and to focus on each individual figure. The artist displays remarkable virtuosity in creating spatial depth and coherence in the narrative, which features a multitude of figures. At present, we know of approximately 80 prayer nuts in existence. This specific item is the only signed example bearing the inscription ‘Adam Thedorici me fecit,’ which translates to ‘Adam Dircksz made me.’ By employing the form ‘me fecit,’ the artist invokes a medieval tradition, thereby allowing this modest work to speak for itself (50 Favorites in the SMK Collection).