Lot number 10 - Auction 165
HEILIGE APOLLONIA

SAINT APOLLONIA Swabia, Southern Germany, late 15th century Linden wood, sculpted in the round, polychromed and gilded, flattened and hollowed out on the back, mounted on a pedestal. H. 95, W. 33, D. 22 cm. A high-quality late Gothic statue of Saint Apollonia from the Swabian region. The martyr is depicted traditionally with a pair of tongs and a tooth, which allude to her martyrdom and are among her characteristic attributes. The finely carved figure captivates with its elegant posture, the softly flowing folds of the robe, and the idealized facial features that characterize South German woodcarving of the late 15th century. Condition and description: minor losses, paint partially renewed; crown and right hand with attribute (tongs with tooth) are later additions. Provenance: Acquired from Neumeister, Munich, July 2, 1980.