St. Michael and the Dragon
Statuette
ca. 1480-1500 (made)
ca. 1480-1500 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
This statuette is made by an unknown artist in the late 15th century in Siegburg, Germany and represents the standing figure of archangel Michael and the dragon. The archangel is holding a small shield in his left hand and in his right a lance with which he strikes the dragon at his feet.
The material is 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 also pipe-clay figures were fired.
This figure was cast from a two-part mould and is characteristic of the small mass-produced images that, like woodcuts, were cheaply available by 1500. 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 archangel Michael is the first of the angels. He is usually represented in armour with a sword and standing over or fighting with a dragon or he is shown with scales. God sent him to cast out Lucifer and he is also regarded as the angel of the Resurrection. He would receive the souls of the dead to weigh them in his balance.
The material is 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 also pipe-clay figures were fired.
This figure was cast from a two-part mould and is characteristic of the small mass-produced images that, like woodcuts, were cheaply available by 1500. 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 archangel Michael is the first of the angels. He is usually represented in armour with a sword and standing over or fighting with a dragon or he is shown with scales. God sent him to cast out Lucifer and he is also regarded as the angel of the Resurrection. He would receive the souls of the dead to weigh them in his balance.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | St. Michael and the Dragon (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Pipeclay |
| Brief description | Statuette, pipeclay, St Michael and the Dragon, Germany (Siegburg), ca. 1480-1500 |
| Physical description | Standing figure of archangel Michael, holding a small shield in his left hand and in his right a lance with which he strikes the dragon at his feet. |
| Dimensions |
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| Object history | This figure was cast from a two-part mould and is characteristic of a small mass-produced images that, like woodcuts, were cheaply available by 1500. 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. Bought from Thewalt Collection. |
| Production | Germany, Siegburg |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | This statuette is made by an unknown artist in the late 15th century in Siegburg, Germany and represents the standing figure of archangel Michael and the dragon. The archangel is holding a small shield in his left hand and in his right a lance with which he strikes the dragon at his feet. The material is 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 also pipe-clay figures were fired. This figure was cast from a two-part mould and is characteristic of the small mass-produced images that, like woodcuts, were cheaply available by 1500. 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 archangel Michael is the first of the angels. He is usually represented in armour with a sword and standing over or fighting with a dragon or he is shown with scales. God sent him to cast out Lucifer and he is also regarded as the angel of the Resurrection. He would receive the souls of the dead to weigh them in his balance. |
| 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 | 1579-1903 |
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| Record created | November 25, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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