Marked "MA"

Vintage Saint Benedict of Nursia Painted Plaster Statue – 11 ¼″

Name: Vintage Saint Benedict of Nursia Painted Plaster Statue – 11 ¼″
Brand: Marked "MA"
Price: 125.00 USD
Availability: InStock

$125.00 USD

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Low stock: 1 left

Type:: Sculpture | Figurine
Style:: Religious Statuary | Devotional Item
Era:: Mid-Century Modern (1945- 1970)
Circa:: 1940s - 1960s
Material:: Painted plaster
Dimensions:: 11 ¼″ tall
Condition:: Very Good (VG)
Maker’s mark:: Base bears the letters “MA,” scratched or incised by hand into the plaster

A beautifully detailed vintage Saint Benedict of Nursia religious statue, this 11 ¼-inch painted plaster figure depicts the founder of the Benedictine monastic tradition with several of his most recognizable attributes: his black monastic habit, abbatial crozier, cross, book, and the raven associated with one of the best-known legends of his life.

The statue has particularly nice visual presence, with Saint Benedict's long white beard and black robes contrasted by a vivid red book, gilded crozier and cross, and gold-painted base. At his feet stands a black raven holding a small red object in its beak—an unusually charming detail referencing the story of the poisoned bread.

The statue is made of molded plaster with hand-applied painted decoration consistent with Catholic religious figures produced during the middle decades of the 20th century. The palette is especially effective: deep black robes, flesh-toned face and hands, white and gray beard, bright red book, green ground, and metallic-gold accents on the crozier, cross, chain, book edges, and base. The molded details are quite good for a devotional plaster figure, particularly the folds of the habit, facial features, individually modeled fingers and toes, feathering of the raven, and ornamentation of the chain and cross.

The reverse of the base bears the letters “MA,” scratched or incised by hand into the plaster and subsequently covered by the original gold-painted finish. The informal nature of the lettering suggests it may have been a workshop, decorator, mold, or production notation rather than a formal manufacturer's mark. No factory name or other identifying mark has been found.

Collector’s Note

Saint Benedict figures have significance beyond their decorative appeal because their imagery tells his story. This example is particularly appealing for retaining the raven at Benedict's feet, an attribute drawn from the centuries-old account of the saint and the poisoned bread. Together with the crozier, cross and red book, it makes the figure immediately recognizable to those familiar with Benedictine iconography.

At more than 11 inches tall, the statue also has enough scale to make an attractive focal point without requiring the space of a large church figure. Its predominantly black habit gives it a restrained appearance, while the gold, red and green details provide just enough color to highlight the symbolic elements. It would display beautifully in a collection of Catholic devotional art, Benedictine memorabilia, vintage religious statuary, monastery-related objects, or ecclesiastical antiques and vintage decor.

Good vintage condition with age-appropriate wear. The statue remains structurally intact, including the delicate projecting details. All fingers and toes are present, as are the crozier, book, cross, and raven. There are scattered areas of paint loss and small surface chips, most noticeably on the reverse of the black robe and around portions of the painted base. The gold finish also shows expected age-related wear and spotting.

The statue would benefit from a careful surface cleaning, which has been left to the future owner to undertake according to their preference. Because this is painted plaster, aggressive cleaning or soaking should be avoided. Please review photographs closely as they form an important part of the condition description.

Identification & Symbolism

Saint Benedict of Nursia (c. 480–547) is traditionally regarded as the father of Western monasticism and is best known for writing the Rule of Saint Benedict. This figure incorporates several traditional Benedictine symbols:

Black habit and hood — representing Benedictine monastic life.
Crozier — signifying Saint Benedict's authority as an abbot and spiritual shepherd.
Pectoral cross — another symbol of his religious and abbatial authority.
Red book — traditionally interpreted as the Rule of Saint Benedict, his influential guide to communal monastic life.
Raven with bread — recalls the legend in which Benedict recognized that a loaf sent to him had been poisoned and commanded a raven to carry it away where it could harm no one.

Just a quick heads‑up: the photos reveal details far better than text alone, so they’re worth a close review.

We share as much accurate information as possible about each item—from provenance to condition—but the images often show the nuances best. If you ever need more details, we’re always happy to help.