How old are these statues?

The available pieces span from the pre-sixteenth century up to the nineteenth century, encompassing late medieval work through to the Baroque and Regency periods. Specific dates or centuries appear in each listing based on stylistic evidence and material analysis.

What woods were used?

Carvers utilised local timber, including oak, walnut, limewood, pine, applewood, and denser hardwoods. German and central European workshops frequently worked in lime, while oak and walnut predominate in earlier French, Italian, and English-influenced pieces.

Were they always painted?

Many figures received layers of gesso followed by polychrome paint, silver, or gold leaf to enhance their visual impact. Others remained as bare wood, relying entirely on the grain and the carver's chisel work for expression.

How were they displayed?

Original contexts included altarpieces, church niches, processional platforms, and private domestic shrines. Today, collectors place them on dedicated plinths, mantels, or brackets to highlight their sculptural form and surface texture.