St Barbara

This satuette is made in the late 15th century by an unknown artist from Germany.

The statuette represents the standing figure of Saint Barbara holding a tower in her right hand and a branch in her left.

Saint Barbara was a Christian saint and martyr. She is the patron saint of artillerymen, military engineers and miners and all professions working with explosives.

Her legend seems not to have any historical foundation behind it. It tells that her father built a tower with two windows where he shut his daughter in to keep her away from her suitors. Later he even killed her. Barbara persuaded the workmen to add a third window to the tower, which symbolises the Trinity.

The father himself was then killed by a lightning and that is why Saint Barbara became the patroness of all professions related to gunfire and firearms.