A painted plaster devotional statuette depicting Saint Thérèse of Lisieux, known as "The Little Flower," rendered in traditional Carmelite monastic attire. The saint is portrayed standing in a brown habit and cream-colored mantle, cradling a crucifix enveloped in a bouquet of pink roses, representing her famous attribution to "let fall a shower of roses." The piece is formed in molded plaster (chalkware) with hand-applied polychrome pigments over an octagonal plinth base.

Condition Report & Details

• Subject / Sitter: Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus)
• Period: Early 20th Century (circa 1925–1940s)
• Origin: Unknown
• Material / Technique: Molded plaster / chalkware with hand-painted polychrome finish
• Decorative Details: Carmelite habit, cream cloak, veil, and crucifix enveloped in roses set upon a green-painted octagonal base
• Colour & Surface: Matte brown, cream, forest green, and rose pink pigments with exposed white plaster substrate
• Condition: Widespread flaking, paint loss, and surface chipping visible across the mantle, reverse, base, and tip of the nose, revealing the underlying white plaster

History

Following the canonization of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux by Pope Pius XI in 1925, small plaster and chalkware devotional statues became immensely popular throughout Western Catholic communities. Produced extensively in France, Italy, and North America during the early-to-mid 20th century, such figures served as central objects of personal veneration in domestic shrines and chapels.