Franciscan Récollet Nun

This figure is one of a set of 50 dressed to represent the outfits worn by Catholic religious orders. They are made of tow (hemp) with wax heads, hands and feet. They were probably made in France, as they are labelled in French, but some of the orders represented were only active in Germany and the Netherlands.

This figure represents a Franciscan Récollet nun. The best known order of Franciscan nuns is that of the Poor Clares, founded by St Clare of Assisi in 1212, and still active today. The Poor Clares still wear a version of the habit worn by this figure, which is a brown tunic and scapular, white wimple, short dark brown veil and brown cloak. Due to the small scale of the figure, an embroidered design over the breast showing the Instruments of the Passion (objects relating to Jesus Christ's death) has been left out.