Sculpture, Saint Catherine - 80 cm - Limewood

​This object is a Baroque carved wood sculpture representing Saint Catherine of Alexandria (Heilige Katharina von Alexandrien):

​Iconography: She is crowned as a princess/martyr and wields a sword in her right hand—the weapon of her eventual execution (beheading) after the torture wheel broke. Her left forearm is missing, where she likely originally held a broken wheel (her primary attribute) or a martyr's palm branch.

​Origin & Style: Typical of Southern German / Lower Bavarian (Niederbayern) regional sacral art, dating to around c. 1700 (Late 17th to Early 18th Century).

​Craftsmanship & Details:
​Material: Carved hardwood (most likely lindenwood/lime wood, standard for Bavarian carving).
​Polychromy: Displays historic layered paint (polychromy) and gilt details on the crown and bodice, showing age-appropriate wear, flaking, and loss (Fassungsspuren).
​Backing: The back is flattened and hollowed out—a standard practice in church and altar figure carving to prevent the wood from cracking as it ages. It features an antique wrought-iron mounting hook.

​Condition Assessment
​Losses: Missing left hand/forearm (and associated attribute, likely a wheel fragment or book/palm), minor chipping along the hem of the drapery.
​Preservation: The original structure, facial features, and sword remain remarkably well-preserved given its age.