German, Cologne, circa 1330-1350

Harry Fuld Sr., Frankfurt am Main and Berlin;
by descent to Harry Fuld jr., Berlin, 1932;
confiscated by the Deutsche Reich (fiscal authorities) after November 25, 1941;
 its sale, Hans W. Lange, Berlin, 27-29 January 1943, lot 284;
with Franz Hardy, Bendorf;
Municipal museum, Germany, 1956;
restituted to the heir of Harry Fuld Jr., 2014.

Bonn, LVR-Landesmuseums, Schöne Madonnen am Rhein, 2009, no. 14

R. Suckale (ed.), Schöne Madonnen am Rhein, exh. cat. LVR-Landesmuseums, Bonn, 2009, p. 190, no. 14

The polychromy on the face and tunic of the bust has been removed and damage due to worming has been filled with a wood paste, including around the nose and shoulders. There is some minor naturally occurring splitting to the wood along the lower edge, most of which has been filled as well.There is a naturally occurring knot in the wood to the reverse of the base. Otherwise the surface has some minor chips and nicks and some marks from carving, notably to the proper right shoulder. The lid is held in place by an iron hinge and a lock; the former is slightly loose.
"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."

For centuries, the many remains found in the Roman grave fields near the city walls of Cologne were considered to be those of the Theban legion, the army of converts thought to have fallen there in 286 CE, and the 11,000 Virgins, who were slain during the siege of Cologne by the Huns whilst following Saint Ursula on her pilgrimage. At the start of the 14th century this resulted in the extraordinary production of head reliquaries in the city with distinctive rounded, doll-like features. The reliquaries were distributed throughout the Christian world but the largest concentrations can still be found in Cologne's churches, where certain altarpieces consist of dozens of these carved wood busts in niches. The female versions are amongst the most charming and recognisable images of the period. The present example is distinguished by its archetypical appearance, provenance, and recent exhibition history. A closely related bust from a private collection, also with alternating trefoil and quatrefoil piercings and only slightly smaller, exhibited in Darmstadt in 1968 (op.cit.) is possibly by the same hand.

RELATED LITERATURE
Bildwerke des Mittelalter, 1200-1530, aus einer Privatsammlung, exh. cat. Hessischen Landesmuseum, Darmstadt, 1968, no. 9, pl. 60