Saint Barbara, 16 Th

Sainte Barbe 16 em the pleating of the clothes is reminiscent of the Flemish or German style
 she was holding a tower that no longer exists
her long curly hair goes down her back
behind a huge iron attachment point
the headdress was formerly reattached with big nails 
the eyes have may have been recut formerly
the statue suffered the pangs of the weather it may have remained outside under a niche which exposed it to the weather
it seems to have suffered axe blows in the neck and face it was common in  time , the iconoclasts destroyed the images the gouged patina of the wood is extraordinary we can still clearly distinguish the structure of the dress
having tribal art I am sensitive to this kind of eroded patina like a madagascar or a jorai from vietnam
found in catalonia but it is not spanish

The legend of Saint Barbara tells that in the 3rd century in Asia Minor, a very pretty young girl with the first name of Barbara lived, according to the will of her father, recluse in a tower to protect her from her suitors. Having left on a trip, he discovered on his return that she had converted to Christianity. Mad with rage, he tried to immolate her. She fled, he found her and after terrible tortures, had her head cut off. The reply from the sky was not long in coming, the father was struck down on the spot. Since then, Sainte Barbe has become the patron saint of trades facing the dangers of fire and explosions: firefighters, pyrotechnicians and miners celebrate her every year on December 4. A day off for the miners, this day was more than a religious event during which a statue of Saint Barbara was blessed and then lowered into the galleries to grant protection to the workers. On the surface, the party becomes popular and shared by all, all religions combined.