I am not at all certain (and initially took this for a male saint, which it may indeed be) but seems possibly a carved depiction of St. Barbara, often shown holding a model of a church, and this figure wears what I take for a crown of roses too, more typical for a female saint. But saints holding churches was not at all uncommon, especially in medieval and Renaissance times, and may designate the patron saint of a particular church. Anyway! I believe European and clearly quite old and weathered, which is some of why I like it--between the surface, and the softening of the features, and the sense that holding the architectural model feels like quite a heavy burden I find it quite soulful. (And the way they hold the church, almost like a baby, reminds me a bit of schlepping a large and fragile folk art house around the flea market!) The wear to the face is I think especially beautiful, with some old pink paint hanging on the the cheeks and the nose beautifully smooth and deep red.
13 3/4" t x 4 1/2" w x 2 3/4" d. Much weathered surface but very sound and sturdy and not losses. Stands squarely, flush to surface. Substantial scale and wonderful presence. I am really not certain of age, c. 18th c. I might guess.
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