St Barbara

Entry

This pipeclay figurine of St Barbara, as well as a Virgin and Child (BK-KOG-1272-D) and a St Catherine of Alexandria (BK-KOG-1272-E), are typical examples of late-medieval devotional objects. They are miniature variants of fifteenth-century iconographic types and can be traced to Utrecht on stylistic grounds. All were unearthed during the demolition of the city‘s ramparts near the Tolsteegpoort in 1844. While less detailed and displaying several minor differences, these pieces are all highly similar to moulds used to make larger pipeclay saintly figures that were excavated on the same site.² Contrary to these larger figures, which were hollow, the smaller variants are solid.³ They were also produced in larger editions: vast quantities of (virtually) identical figurines have been unearthed during excavation campaigns in the centres of medieval cities and on the grounds of (former) monastic complexes.⁴ Thanks to the serial production method and the inexpensive material in which they were made, these figurines were affordable for almost any individual living in the Middle Ages. The convenient format also made these kinds of miniature sculptures ideally suited for carrying in one’s clothing. Besides serving as aids for private devotion, such objects could also be used as a talisman or ‘pocket saint’ to protect the devout Christian against danger, illness and misfortune.⁵

Bieke van der Mark, 2024