St Barbara
Statuette
15th century (made)
15th century (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
St Barbara, her long hair falling over her shoulders and wearing a fillet, is shown holding a round crenellated tower, a reference to the fact that she was imprisoned in a tower by her father.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Title | St Barbara (generic title) |
| Materials and techniques | Carved, painted and gilt alabaster |
| Brief description | Alabaster statuette depicting St Barbara. English, 15th century. |
| Physical description | The saint has long hair falling over her shoulders and wears a fillet. In her left hand she holds a round crenellated tower. The tower is ornamented with a sunken convex boss (which may represent a cannon-ball--one of the saint's attributes) and two cross-shaped incisions. The saint wears a tight-fitting robe, and a long cloak which is draped from the right shoulder. The eyelids are carved. The saint's right hand and the top part of the tower are missing. The head has been broken off and repaired. There is blue paint on the saint's cloak and traces of red on her gown. There are traces of gilding on her hair. The back of the carving bears a V-shaped mark and three or four short, deep incisions. There are seven holes, six filled with lead. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Marks and inscriptions |
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| Credit line | Given by Dr W. L. Hildburgh FSA |
| Object history | Acquired by Dr W. L. Hildburgh in Paris, where the vendor said it had been obtained from a stone-cutter in Neufchâteau, Vosges. On loan to the Museum from Dr Hildburgh since 1920. Given by Dr Hildburgh in 1946. |
| Subjects depicted | |
| Summary | St Barbara, her long hair falling over her shoulders and wearing a fillet, is shown holding a round crenellated tower, a reference to the fact that she was imprisoned in a tower by her father. |
| Bibliographic reference | Cheetham, Francis. English Medieval Alabasters. Oxford: Phaidon-Christie's Limited, 1984. p. 76 (cat. 5), ill. ISBN 0-7148-8014-0 |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | A.14-1946 |
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| Record created | November 29, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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