Pomona

This statuette representing Pomona is made by Ferdinand Ditz in South Germany in the third quarter of the 18th century. The figure formed part of the decoration of the staircase, erected by Abbot Bonifazius Gessnet between 1754 and 1770, in the Abbey of Bildhausen, Unterfranken. Bildhausen, a Cistercian foundation, was secularised in 1803, and since 1914 has been in large part destroyed.

It has also been suggested that the present figure could represent a Sybil, probably the Libyan Sybil, who is normally shown with a garland of roses, and that there were more Sybils on the balustrade which have disappeared.

Dietz (1708-1777), was a German sculptor of the Rococo era. Ferdinand changed his name to Tietz. He was the second son of the sculptor Johann Adam Dietz.