St Catherine
Statuette
16th century (made)
16th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This statuette from the 16th century by an unknown artist from Germany represents the saint St Catherine of Alexandria. She is standing crowned, with a wheel by her side. In her right hand is a sword, in her left a ring.
St. Catherine also called St Catherine of the Wheel or the Great Martyr Saint Catherine is a Christian Saint and Martyr. Her principal symbol is a spiked wheel and her feast day is 25th November by most Christian churches. The legend tells that she was to be condemned to death on a wheel, which broke, when she touched it. She was then beheaded instead.
The statuette is made of pipeclay, which is a fine white clay used to make tobacco pipes and pottery. Conveniently situated on a major trading route, Siegburg was a centre of ceramic production with well-organised workshops and kilns in which also pipe-clay figures were fired.
St. Catherine also called St Catherine of the Wheel or the Great Martyr Saint Catherine is a Christian Saint and Martyr. Her principal symbol is a spiked wheel and her feast day is 25th November by most Christian churches. The legend tells that she was to be condemned to death on a wheel, which broke, when she touched it. She was then beheaded instead.
The statuette is made of pipeclay, which is a fine white clay used to make tobacco pipes and pottery. Conveniently situated on a major trading route, Siegburg was a centre of ceramic production with well-organised workshops and kilns in which also pipe-clay figures were fired.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | St Catherine (generic title) |
Materials and techniques | Pipeclay |
Brief description | Statuette, pipeclay, St Catherine of Alexandria, Germany (Siegburg), 16th century |
Physical description | The saint standing crowned, with a wheel by her side; in her right hand is a sword, in her left a ring |
Dimensions |
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Object history | Dug up near Cologne. Bought, 5s. |
Production | Germany - Siegburg |
Subjects depicted | |
Summary | This statuette from the 16th century by an unknown artist from Germany represents the saint St Catherine of Alexandria. She is standing crowned, with a wheel by her side. In her right hand is a sword, in her left a ring. St. Catherine also called St Catherine of the Wheel or the Great Martyr Saint Catherine is a Christian Saint and Martyr. Her principal symbol is a spiked wheel and her feast day is 25th November by most Christian churches. The legend tells that she was to be condemned to death on a wheel, which broke, when she touched it. She was then beheaded instead. The statuette is made of pipeclay, which is a fine white clay used to make tobacco pipes and pottery. Conveniently situated on a major trading route, Siegburg was a centre of ceramic production with well-organised workshops and kilns in which also pipe-clay figures were fired. |
Bibliographic reference | Inventory of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum in the Years 1903 - 1904. In: List of Works of Art Acquired by the Victoria and Albert Museum, During the Year 1903, Arranged According to the Dates of Acquisition with Appendix and Indices. London: Printed for His Majesty's Stationery Office, by Wyman and Sons, Limited, 1907, p. 250 |
Collection | |
Accession number | 1458-1903 |
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Record created | November 21, 2008 |
Record URL |
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