Figurine

Pipeclay figurine of St Barbara (head missing) carrying a tower in her right hand and a palm branch of martyrdom in her left. The figurine was probably imported from Germany or the Netherlands. Medieval Londoners kept figurines of saints in their homes.

St Barbara is said to have lived in the 4th century AD and had been kept in a tower by her father to isolate her from the outside world. She secretly became a Christian and when she confessed this to her pagan father, he turned her over to the state authorities. She was put on trial, tortured and condemned to death but refused to give up her religion. Her father beheaded her but as a punishment he was killed by being struck by lightning. St Barbara was often shown holding a palm branch, as an emblem of her martyrdom, and a tower.