A One-of-a-Kind 16th-Century Miniature Dutch Nativity Scene

Teeming with life and finely carved details, this triptych resonates with a hypnotizing horror vacui . Dense, lavish ornamentation catches the eye and draws it to the central scene, divided into two separate tableaus. The various elements describe a schematic representation of Gothic architecture from the early 16 th century, when this rare work was created. It belongs to the very small circle of devotional micro-sculptures created in the studio of Adam Dircksz, who was active between 1500 and 1530. The fact that very little is known about him does not detract from the virtuosity of each object created in his unique studio, which seems to have had no competitors in its field. Admired and collected since their creation,…