502 - Heinz Schober, porcelain figure Saint Barbara with crown, chalice and tower, patron saint of miners

Heinz Schober, porcelain figure Saint Barbara with crown, chalice and tower, patron saint of miners Porcelain, white glazed, figure of Saint Barbara by Heinz Schober, inscribed "H. Schober" on the back, impressed model number "U 9919/0" on the base, depiction of Saint Barbara, patron saint of miners, with her typical attributes crown, chalice and tower, finely and intricately worked, on rectangular base with bevelled corners, good condition, 22x8x7.5 cm (HxWxD). 360-degree photo available on our website. Heinz Schober (1933–1997) from Mengersgereuth in Thuringia trained as a ceramic modeller from 1947 at the vocational school for toys and ceramics in Sonneberg and worked as a modeller at the porcelain factory A. W. Fr. Kister from 1950 to 1971. According to legend, her father Dioskuros had Saint Barbara locked in a tower because of her beauty, where she secretly professed Christianity; the tower became her main attribute, the chalice with host marks her as a confessor of the faith. Miners saw the tower as a pithead tower and venerate her as their patron saint, as do artillerymen. Together with Margaret and Catherine, Barbara is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers; her feast day is 4 December, on which, according to old custom, Barbara branches are cut.