Austrian, probably Tyrol, circa 1500

Private collection, Belgium

Overall the condition of the sculpture is good, with some wear and dirt to the surface consistent with age. There are losses to the spikes of the crown, the cup (of which only the foot survives), and to four of the fingers of the proper right hand. There are also losses to the saint's proper right foot and the base on the proper right side, to some of the strands of hair on the saint's back and proper right shoulder, and to the drapery beside the proper right arm. There are a few further minor losses, notably around the bottom edge of the base. There is some minor stable splitting to the wood consistent with the material, in particular to the forehead, the chest, to the gilt drapery at the front, and to the back; most of these splits have been filled. There is wear to the polychromy and gilding, including craquelure and some flaking. There is particular wear to the gilding and polychromy at the high points, notably the nose and the gilt folds of drapery at the front. It is likely that some of the gilding and polychromy have been refreshed at a later date. There is some very minor evidence of past worming in areas, including the face and neck. There is an old metal pin to the neck on the proper left side.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

This charming figure of Saint Barbara shows characteristics that allow it to be placed within the Tyrolean tradition of the late 15th and early 16th century. The flowing drapery, being pulled in front of the body and seemingly weightless, is a known Tyrolean motif. It can be seen in a figure of a female saint sold in the Hierzenberger Collection in these rooms on 3 April 1984, lot 260, which also shows very similar posture and type of dress. A further comparable figure, of Saint Margaret, is in the Germanisches Nationalmuseum, Nuremberg (Müller op. cit. fig. 182), and shows similarities in the spiraled strands of hair, and wonderfully soft facial features. The present figure, as the Hierzenberger Saint, appear to have been influenced by the tradition of Hans Klocker, especially in the complicated folds of crinkled drapery, and the facial features of the slightly slanted eyes and rosebud mouth. 

Saint Barbara, one of the Eastern saints, lived, according to tradition, in Nicodemia in present-day Turkey in the third century. Her father, refusing to let her live her life as a Christian, locked her in a tower: the tower is therefore one of Saint Barbara's most common attributes. The chalice, which she holds in the present lot, became one of her attributes in the later Middle Ages, when her cult gained widespread popularity.  

RELATED LITERATURE
Spätgotik in Salzburg: Skulptur und Kunstgewerbe, 1400-1530, exh. cat. Salzburger Museum Carolino Augusteum, Salzburg, 1976; R. Didier and H. Krohm, Les Sculptures Medievales Allemandes dans les Collections Belges, exh. cat. Société Générale du Banque, Brussels, 1977, no. 19; T. Müller, Gotische Skulptur in Tirol, Vienna, 1976