St Barbara
Statuette
late 15th century to early 16th century (made)
late 15th century to early 16th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This statuette is by an unknown artist made in the late 15th or early 16th century in Siegburg in Germany.
It is made of pipeclay, which is a fine white clay also 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 pipe-clay figures were also fired.
The figure represents Saint Barbara, who was a Christian saint and martyr. She is the patron saint of artillerymen, military engineers and miners and all professions working with explosives.
Her legend seems not to have any historical foundation behind it.
It tells that her father built a tower with two windows where he shut his daughter in to keep her away from her suitors. Barbara persuaded the workmen to add a third window, which symbolises the Trinity.
Her father later killed her. He himself was then killed by a lightning and that is why Saint Barbara became the patroness of all professions related to gunfire and firearms.
It is made of pipeclay, which is a fine white clay also 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 pipe-clay figures were also fired.
The figure represents Saint Barbara, who was a Christian saint and martyr. She is the patron saint of artillerymen, military engineers and miners and all professions working with explosives.
Her legend seems not to have any historical foundation behind it.
It tells that her father built a tower with two windows where he shut his daughter in to keep her away from her suitors. Barbara persuaded the workmen to add a third window, which symbolises the Trinity.
Her father later killed her. He himself was then killed by a lightning and that is why Saint Barbara became the patroness of all professions related to gunfire and firearms.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | St Barbara (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pipeclay |
| Brief description | Statuette, pipeclay, St. Barbara, Germany, Siegburg, late 15th or early 16th century |
| Physical description | The Saint St. Barbara stands with a sword in her right hand and a tower supported on her left arm |
| Dimensions |
|
| Object history | Bought from the Thewalt Collection. |
| Historical context | Siegburg was a centre of ceramic production with well-organised workshops and kilns in which pipeclay figures were also fired. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This statuette is by an unknown artist made in the late 15th or early 16th century in Siegburg in Germany. It is made of pipeclay, which is a fine white clay also 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 pipe-clay figures were also fired. The figure represents Saint Barbara, who was a Christian saint and martyr. She is the patron saint of artillerymen, military engineers and miners and all professions working with explosives. Her legend seems not to have any historical foundation behind it. It tells that her father built a tower with two windows where he shut his daughter in to keep her away from her suitors. Barbara persuaded the workmen to add a third window, which symbolises the Trinity. Her father later killed her. He himself was then killed by a lightning and that is why Saint Barbara became the patroness of all professions related to gunfire and firearms. |
| 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. 269 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | 1582-1903 |
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| Record created | November 25, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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