Inkpot Madonna

The Inkpot Madonna is a magnificent late-Gothic sculpture of Mary, housed in Hildesheim Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This life-size wooden statue, created circa 1430 in Lower Saxony, exemplifies the international Gothic style. It portrays a tender-faced Mary with a relaxed posture and flowing drapery, standing at 1.8 meters tall.

Carved from oak, Mary is depicted wearing a rich blue garment with gold trim, holding the naked Baby Jesus. Baby Jesus is shown holding a quill and a scroll, symbolizing writing, while Mary holds an inkpot, which is the source of the statue’s name.

Originally placed in the chapter house of the cathedral, the statue was later moved to a more prominent location within the church. During cathedral renovations in 2010, the Inkpot Madonna was temporarily relocated to the Niedersächsisches Landesmuseum Hannover. Restoration work in 2012 revealed issues with the wood and paint. After these were addressed, the sculpture returned to the cathedral in 2014, where it now occupies a significant position on the opposite pillar of the crossing.