Attributed to Daniel Mauch (circa 1476-1540) Southern German, Ulm, or Southern Netherlandish, Liège, circa 1525-1540

Overall the condition of the wood is good, with some wear and dirt to the surface consistent with age. There is evidence of past worming throughout, having led to some superficial surface losses such as in the face, and losses to the crown. There are a few more minor losses, including to the frills of the collar and to the edges of the swirl of drapery on the proper left side. Some of the worm holes have been filled, notably in the face. There is wear to the polychromy throughout, including flaking, and areas of loss, in particular to the face, chest, hands, and the high points of the drapery. Some of the polychromy, including that on the lips, has probably been refreshed. A section at the front of the base is carved separately. A modern wood board is attached to the bottom for stability. There is a metal hook to the reverse.
"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 exuberant figure of Saint Catherine has been convincingly attributed to Daniel Mauch, one of the foremost wood carvers of early-16th century Swabia. Her distinctive, shrewdly smiling face, and finely delineated strands of hair are seen in numerous female figures by the master, from early works such as the Catherine in the Coronation relief in Kempten (op. cit., cat. no. 1) to carvings from his later career, notably the Mary Magdalene in Geislingen of circa 1520 (op. cit., cat. no. 26). 

Daniel Mauch is considered the last great sculptor of the late Gothic school in Ulm. Having spent the majority of his career from 1503 the Swabian city, he settled in Liège in 1529, a move that may have been motivated by the Reformation movement in his hometown. It is in Mauch's only securely documented work from his activity in Liège that the Saint Catherine finds perhaps her closest comparison. Though the general scheme of her drapery corresponds to earlier works by the master (see op. cit., cat. no. 37a), her agitated sense of movement and the tubular parallel folds around her right arm are reminiscent of the so-called Berselius Madonna of circa 1529-1535 (op. cit., cat. no. 39). The present figure is therefore likely to represent a rare masterwork from the sculptor's later career, which saw a transition from a late Gothic to a Renaissance aesthetic.

RELATED LITERATURE
B. Reinhardt and E. Leistenschneider (eds.), Daniel Mauch: Bildhauer im Zeitalter der Reformation, exh. cat. Ulmer Museum, Ulm, Ostfildern, 2009

An expertise by Dr. Albrecht Miller, dated 6 April 2010, is available upon request.