Helmeted Female Figure – Southern Germany, Late 17th-Early 18th Century

Carved with remarkable virtuosity from a dense, lustrous wood, this statuette, produced in Southern Germany between the late 17th and early 18th century, offers a glimpse into the refined and elegant beginnings of Bavarian Rococo.
Standing in a poised and graceful attitude, the female figure wears an exuberant helmet adorned with lavish plumes and a crescent moon — a possible allusion to the goddess Diana, or to Selene, the Greek goddess of the night. Though both deities are rarely portrayed wearing a helmet, this bold iconographic fusion reflects the Rococo’s taste for formal invention and complex symbolism.

The ornamental richness of the work is expressed with particular brilliance in the treatment of the costume: the chest is accentuated by a rigid, stylised bodice, structured with rounded and symmetrical forms that recall decorative armor. This central motif draws the viewer’s gaze and enhances the theatrical presence of the figure.
The elegantly clinging drapery flowing down her legs evokes the classical tradition of wet drapery, heightening the dynamic interplay between form and material. Fluid and animated, the folds follow the contours of the body with naturalism, subtly revealing its volumes while preserving a refined sense of movement. The ensemble attests to a masterful command of sculptural technique.

Likely intended for a refined interior or a collector’s cabinet, this work harmoniously unites expressiveness, decorative sophistication, and iconographic invention — in the finest spirit of the late 17th century.