DepartmentEurope

Woman with Basket of Bread and Fougasse on Her Arm

NameFigure

DateLate 1970s - early 1980s

(not assigned)AUps, Cote d'Azur, France, Europe

MediumCeramic, wood, cotton, bread, vegetal fiber (basketry) synthetic fiber, paint

DimensionsWoman: 12 5/8 × 4 15/16 × 4 3/4 in. (32 × 12.5 × 12 cm)
Fougasse: 3 1/8 × 2 1/16 × 3/8 in. (8 × 5.3 × 1 cm)
Basket: 3 15/16 × 2 3/4 × 2 7/16 in. (10 × 7 × 6.2 cm)
Baguette: 3/4 × 2 3/8 × 7/8 in. (1.9 × 6.1 × 2.2 cm)
Country bread: 9/16 × 1 1/2 × 1 9/16 in. (1.5 × 3.8 × 4 cm)

Credit LineMuseum of International Folk Art, Gift of Bob and Marge McCarthy, A.2011.38.21

Terms

Aups

Object numberA.2011.38.21a-e

ProvenanceThe tradition of making santons ("Little Saints") in Provence, France began after the revolution when it was forbidden to have the creche figures in churches. People made them at home of wax or wood or ceramic and added local figures bringing gifts to the Christ Child. See paperwork in file titled "How Santons Are Made" and "How Mamie Martin Santons Are Made."

DescriptionStanding older woman with brown hair under white bonnet has round, pierced flat bread (fougasse) hanging from right arm on string and she holds a dark stained round handled basket on left arm. Basket holds a baguette and a loaf of country bread. Woman wears a long purplish blue gray print skirt and vertically striped long mauve apron. She also wears a deep rose blouse with white camisole. Over her shoulders is a brown, pink, red and purple shawl, pinned in back. Under her skirt is a gray and white striped slip and similar bloomers. Her legs are painted as are her black shoes. On the hardwood stand "Mamie Martin MOF" is signed at right front, "V" at back left.