Votive sculpture “Sacrificial Cow”

The German ethnographer Marie Andree-Eysn (1847–1929) predominantly collected wrought votive offerings from the 19th century. In this respect Saint Leonard, a 5th century-hermit and abbot from Limoges, France, had a special role to play. He was revered from the 11th century onwards as a patron saint of prisoners and farmers, amongst others, most of all in Bavaria. Many chapels dedicated to him still feature votive offerings placed there to invoke his help today. Andree-Eysn meant her title for this votive offering in a mythologizing sense. It was originally used as a contract in cattle trades.