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A late 15th century carved limewood figure of a female saint, probably St Catherine of Siena Lower Rhenish or Southern Tyrolean, circa 1480 image 1
A late 15th century carved limewood figure of a female saint, probably St Catherine of Siena Lower Rhenish or Southern Tyrolean, circa 1480 image 2
Lot 2*,TP

A late 15th century carved limewood figure of a female saint, probably St Catherine of Siena
Lower Rhenish or Southern Tyrolean, circa 1480

Fine Decorative Arts, 1200-1900
23 June 2021, 14:00 BST
London, New Bond Street

£12,000 - £18,000

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A late 15th century carved limewood figure of a female saint, probably St Catherine of Siena

Lower Rhenish or Southern Tyrolean, circa 1480
carved three quarter profile with hollowed back, her downcast face with penitent expression, her flowing hair with jewelled bandeau headdress, clad in an elaborate high waisted gown and cloak with corded tied fastening, her hairshirt 'Cilice' forming the bodice and stomacher of the gown with jewelled vertical border decoration, her left hand holding up her folded and draped skirt, her right hand possibly once holding a spray of lilies, now lacking,
105cm high overall

Footnotes

The presence of a Cilice, worn by the figure depicted in the present lot appears to confirm a depiction of St Catherine of Siena, with the garment (albeit of modified fitted form) denoting her later life and her rejection of the material world. Cilice's were traditionally worn with the objective to induce discomfort and pain in the wearer as a sign of repentance or attornment. However the juxtaposition of this garment with its jewelled decoration along with the rest of the figures more fashionable attire probably alludes to the saints more comfortable early family origins.

Catherine of Siena (Italian, 1347-1380) was a lay member of the Dominican Order and a mystic, activist and author who was canonised in 1461. A great influencer on Italian literature and the Catholic Church, the devotion around her developed rapidly after her death in the closing decades of the 15th century, spreading from Italian into central and then Northern Europe at the time when the present lot would have been carved. Considered to be one of the outstanding figures of medieval Catholicism she had a great influence on the documentation of the history of the papacy. She was also the figure behind the return of the Pope from Avignon to Rome and carried out many missions for him which was a rarity for a woman in the Middle Ages. Her Dialogue and numerous letters and prayers give her a prominent place in the history of Italian literature.

Additional information

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