Late medieval clay figurines – toys, devotional items or decoration? A few remarkson the relationship between function and iconography

Late medieval clay figurines can be divided into two iconographic groups: religious motifsthat are usually interpreted as devotional items and profane motifs believed to have been used as toys or decoration. Nevertheless, this approach needs to be revised in view of the distinction between iconography and function that should be made according to many researchers, who see the owner of an object as the one who decided about usage in specific situations. The paper discusses the different functions that different types of figurines could have served. It also reflects on the connections between iconography and the role assigned to a figurine by the user, as well as on discrepancies in that matter. The border between sacrum and profanum was rather fluid in the Middle Ages and religious figurines could have been used in not religion-related situations and profane ones in religious activities

ill. ; 24 cm

il. ; 24 cm