Austrian, Northern Tyrol, late 15th century

with an old red label inscribed: 15400

Sotheby's London, 11 December 1980, lot 97
on loan to Museum Schnütgen, Cologne, September 2009 to December 2012 (on display)

Overall the condition is good with dirt and wear to the surface consistent with age. There are losses and craquelure to the polychromy throughout, especially to the chest and base. The sculpture is carved in sections, with the hands, orb and crucifix carved separately. There is an open joint between the figure and base. There is a lacuna to the top of the head. There is some stable splitting consistent with material, including to the coronet on the proper right side. There is non-active worming, including to the sides at the back and to the front of the base. The attribute that would have been held in the proper right hand is lost. The crucifix on the orb is loose, and may be replaced. There is a hook to the saint's back and a hook to the base at the back. There is a small hole to the back of the saint's head.
"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."

St. Sigismond is represented here with thick curly hair typical of Tyrolian representations of young male saints. See for example the St. George from the Landesmuseum Ferdinandeum in Innsbruck and a St. Sebastian from Schloss Tratzberg illustrated in Müller (op.cit., nos. 135 and 184). The physiognomy is equally emblematic of Austrian wood carving: two half-length figures from Hans Klocker’s altar piece from Tramin, today in the Bayerisches Nationalmuseum, Munich (inv. no. MA 1952.1-6), look similarly jovial.

St. Sigismund was the first Christian King of Burgundy, ruling from 516 to 524. His conversion inspired him to found a monastery in Valias, where he remorsefully retreated after strangling his son for insulting his wife. He reemerged and in 523 he led the Burgundians in battle against the Franks and was captured and executed, prompting his people to venerate him as a martyr. This veneration spread towards Eastern Europe as his relics were moved to churches in Prague and Varad among others.

RELATED LITERATURE
T. Müller, Gotische Skulptur in Tirol, Bozen/ Vienna, 1976, pp. 438-439 and 443, nos. 135, 146 and 184