On loan

  • On display at the Faith Museum, Bishop Auckland

St Andrew

Statuette
15th century (made)
Artist/Maker
Unknown
Place of origin
England (made)

Saint Andrew shown with a flowing beard, wearing a gown and a long cloak reaching to his feet, holds a large saltire cross, his emblem, in front of his body. He rests his right hand near the top of the cross and his left hand against its centre.

The saltire is a emblem of Saint Andrew's martyrdom.

Object details

Categories
Christianity
Religion
Sculpture
Object type
Statuette
TitleSt Andrew (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Carved, painted and gilt alabaster
Alabaster
Paint
Gilt
Carving
Painting
Gilding
Brief description
Alabaster statuette depicting St Andrew. English, 15th century.
Physical description
The saint, who wears a flowing bifid beard, holds a large saltire cross, his emblem, in front of his body. He rests his right hand near the top of the cross and his left hand against its centre. He wears a gown and a long cloak reaching to his feet. He stands on a base showing three facets in front.

The top and bottom of the saltire cross are damaged. There are traces of gilding on the saint's hair and beard. There is green paint on his robes and on the base of the carving (which appears to be modern) on top of a reddish-brown paint. There are two holes drilled in the back of the figure.
Dimensions
  • Height: 35.2cm (Note: Measurements (mm) Height 350 Width 126 Depth 43)
  • Width: 13.3cm
  • Height: 350mm
  • Width: 126mm
  • Depth: 43mm
From Cheetham, English Medieval Alabasters, 1984.
Style
Medieval
Credit line
Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA
Object history
On loan from Dr W.L. Hildburgh since 1922 and given by him in 1946.

Historical significance: Another example in English alabaster is the figure formerly (1969) in the possession of S.W. Wolsey of London and now in an English private collection.
Subjects depicted
Cloak
Saint Andrew's Crosses
Andrew
Summary
Saint Andrew shown with a flowing beard, wearing a gown and a long cloak reaching to his feet, holds a large saltire cross, his emblem, in front of his body. He rests his right hand near the top of the cross and his left hand against its centre.

The saltire is a emblem of Saint Andrew's martyrdom.
Bibliographic references
  • Cheetham, Francis. English Medieval Alabasters. Oxford: Phaidon-Christie's Limited, 1984. p. 72 (cat. 1), ill. ISBN 0-7148-8014-0
  • Hildburgh, W.L. Notes on some English Alabaster Carvings. Antiquaries Journal . IV, 1924, p. 375, fig. 5.
Collection
Sculpture Collection
Accession number
A.32-1946

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Record createdNovember 12, 2002
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O69902/st-andrew-statuette-unknown/
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