One of my favorite shops in San Francisco is Aria Antiques. It's a treasure trove of strange curiosities...doll parts, old scientific equipment, vintage botany posters and maps, etc... It's fun to get lost in the fascination of it's other worldly relics.
On my recent visit I was so excited to find an ex-voto of a knee + calf (smaller one.) It's the perfect companion to my newly formed collection. I became interested in ex-votos both as a decorative item and as a talisman. Specifically I'm collecting the lower leg because my left calf often has knots in the muscle (source unknown). I thought it was time for divine intervention.
An ex-voto is a votive offering to a saint or divinity after the fulfillment of a vow or promise. The offering is often made in a church where the person wants to give thanks or seeks grace.
