St Catherine of Alexandria
Statuette
16th century (made)
16th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This statuette is made in the 16th century iin Germany by an unknown artist.
The statuette represents the Saint Catherine of Alexandria standing 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.
It 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.
The statuette represents the Saint Catherine of Alexandria standing 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.
It 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 of Alexandria (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pipeclay |
| Brief description | Statuette, pipeclay, St. Catherine of Alexandria, Germany (Siegburg), 16th century |
| Physical description | The saint standing with a wheel by her side; in her right hand is a sword, in her left a ring |
| Dimensions |
|
| Object history | Dug up near Cologne. Bought, 5s. |
| Production | Germany - Siegburg |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This statuette is made in the 16th century iin Germany by an unknown artist. The statuette represents the Saint Catherine of Alexandria standing 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. It 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. 252 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1472-1903 |
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| Record created | November 21, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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