Lot information
The statuette was undoubtedly part of a larger whole, as can be seen from its smooth, artistically unprocessed back. No attributes have survived that would help determine the identity of the saint, but most likely she was one of the four Virgines capitales, often depicted alongside the Virgin Mary (St. Catherine, Barbara, Dorothy and Margaret).The overall composition repeats several woodcuts of the late beautiful style, which represent St. Kateřina: from Karlštejn (today NG in Prague), from Boletice (AJG Hluboká nad Vltavou), from Tedražice (NG Prague) and from the West Bohemian Museum in Pilsen. A fairly accurate repetition of the type points to the possibility of using common workshop templates (most likely drawings). An identical scheme does not necessarily mean that it is St. Katerina, given the great popularity of this virgin martyr in the late 14th and early 15th centuries, this possibility would be statistically the most likely.
The carving probably followed a traditional type of iconography with a small wheel and possibly a sword. The movement of the saint is moderate, the folds of the mantle become more of a graphic play on the surface. The round head rests on a strong neck, full cheeks and a lovely, perhaps a little naive expression of the saint allow us to think about her origin in southern Bohemia.
The figurine was part of the sacred space for a long time, probably in a different context, and its iconography may have been changed as well.
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condition:
The statuette is damaged, with a destroyed face, missing forearms and the tops of the folds on the torso, a smooth and artistically unworked back, unpreserved attributes and a secondarily worked top of the head, modified for a later (probably metal) crown.
Bidders are requested to inquire about the condition of the lot prior to the auction. Any complaints will be disregarded.
