Perspectives

Description: I am a neurologist, and my sister, a newly-retired radiologist, made this and gave it to me recently as a birthday present. The axial brain image was created using the technique of “Quilling,” in which strips of paper are coiled (originally around a quill pen) and then glued together to form more complex structures. The artform can be traced to the early Renaissance, when it was practiced in convents in France and Italy to decorate reliquaries and religious manuscripts, possibly in an attempt to mimic more expensive silver and gold filigree or ivory scrollwork. Later, the craft was felt to be a “suitable pastime” for fine young ladies. (Artist: Polly Boren Hansen, MD, San Antonio, Texas)