Old Woman

Throughout the ages artists and craftsmen have made virtuoso carvings as a display of their skill and ingenuity. Although ivory, wood and stone are relatively easy to carve, other materials such as gemstones are much more demanding. Most of these carvings were made for wealthy patrons and collectors, who delighted in the rarity of the material and quality of the carving. The seated figure was probably made as a model for reproduction in bronze. Four examples in bronze and two others in pearwood are known. This suggests that the subject, which probably symbolises Vanity,was popular with collectors in southern Germany.