Fille Dévote
Ecclesiastical Figure
first half 19th century (made)
first half 19th century (made)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
This figure is one of a set of 50 dressed to represent the outfits worn by Catholic religious orders. They are made of tow (hemp) with wax heads, hands and feet. They were probably made in France, as they are labelled in French, but some of the orders represented were only active in Germany and the Netherlands.
This figure represents a Fille Dévote. The fille dévote was an unmarried woman who followed a religious life without taking vows or withdrawing from the world. Individual fille dévotes first appeared in France in the early seventeenth century, gradually forming communities devoted to nurturing work such as tending to the sick, poor, and disadvantaged, teaching, and raising small children. Although similar to the Béguines (see 1212:3-1905), fille dévotes are a distinct group. While this figure wears a sombre black cloth dress, its fitted bodice, narrow waist and wide hips reflect the fashionable silhouette of the eighteenth century. Her large floppy black bonnet is of a type traditionally worn by Alsatian women, which may indicate the figures were made in or near Alsace, on the border between France and Germany.
This figure represents a Fille Dévote. The fille dévote was an unmarried woman who followed a religious life without taking vows or withdrawing from the world. Individual fille dévotes first appeared in France in the early seventeenth century, gradually forming communities devoted to nurturing work such as tending to the sick, poor, and disadvantaged, teaching, and raising small children. Although similar to the Béguines (see 1212:3-1905), fille dévotes are a distinct group. While this figure wears a sombre black cloth dress, its fitted bodice, narrow waist and wide hips reflect the fashionable silhouette of the eighteenth century. Her large floppy black bonnet is of a type traditionally worn by Alsatian women, which may indicate the figures were made in or near Alsace, on the border between France and Germany.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Fille Dévote |
Materials and techniques | Figure made of tow and wax, dressed in linen and woollen materials. |
Brief description | Wax and tow figure dressed as a Fille Dévote |
Physical description | Figure made of wax and tow, dressed in linen and woollen fabrics. Black tunic with fitted bodice and panniers, white collar, black apron, black floppy bonnet |
Dimensions |
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Credit line | Given by Mr. G. Smith |
Object history | One of a group of 50 figures given to the Educational Department by Mr. G. Smith of St John's Wood in 1868, but only formally accessioned in 1905. The labels on the bases are in French but some of the orders represented (e.g the Alexians and the Order of the Conception) seem to have been confined to Germany and the Low Countries. (from original acquisition record for 1905) |
Production | Labelled in French; some of the orders represented confined to Germany or the Netherlands. |
Summary | This figure is one of a set of 50 dressed to represent the outfits worn by Catholic religious orders. They are made of tow (hemp) with wax heads, hands and feet. They were probably made in France, as they are labelled in French, but some of the orders represented were only active in Germany and the Netherlands. This figure represents a Fille Dévote. The fille dévote was an unmarried woman who followed a religious life without taking vows or withdrawing from the world. Individual fille dévotes first appeared in France in the early seventeenth century, gradually forming communities devoted to nurturing work such as tending to the sick, poor, and disadvantaged, teaching, and raising small children. Although similar to the Béguines (see 1212:3-1905), fille dévotes are a distinct group. While this figure wears a sombre black cloth dress, its fitted bodice, narrow waist and wide hips reflect the fashionable silhouette of the eighteenth century. Her large floppy black bonnet is of a type traditionally worn by Alsatian women, which may indicate the figures were made in or near Alsace, on the border between France and Germany. |
Collection | |
Accession number | 1212:4-1905 |
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Record created | May 16, 2008 |
Record URL |
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