How were these statues used originally?

These statues served as focal points for prayer in churches, private chapels, and home altars. Many were also carried through streets during religious processions. Over time, surviving figures moved from sacred spaces into secular collections, retaining their contemplative presence.

How do I care for a wooden statue?

Keep wooden sculptures away from direct heat sources and dramatic humidity shifts to prevent the timber from splitting. Dust them gently with a dry, soft brush rather than using wet cloths. Stable indoor conditions preserve both the carved wood and any fragile historic paint layers.

How can I tell the period of a carving?

Dating relies on stylistic clues such as the angular folds of Gothic drapery versus the dramatic curves of Baroque sculpture. Tool marks, timber species, and the ageing of underlying gesso provide further physical evidence. Comparing pieces to dated examples helps establish their place within the timeline from the medieval era onwards.

Are these pieces painted originally?

Many figures retain layers of historic polychrome paint and gold leaf applied directly over gesso or bare wood. Some surfaces show multiple campaigns of decoration from different centuries. Other pieces were left as exposed timber, particularly Renaissance and Gothic oak works intended to show the grain.