This 15th century example of St Apollonia in stained glass, shows her in a traditional pose, where she is clasping an extracted tooth in a pair of large forceps.
Although in surprisingly good condition for its age, we did some conservation work on the glass to restore it, and we commissioned a custom-made lightbox so it can be displayed at the entrance to our Museum.
St Apollonia’s feast day is held every 9 February, she is the patron saint of toothache sufferers. Apollonia refused to renounce her faith and threw herself into the flames in Alexandria in 249 AD.
Praying to her in medieval times was thought to bring relief from toothache.
There are over fifty depictions of St Apollonia in English churches often on rood screens and windows, and this one is originally from a church in Somerset.
The window was purchased by a generous grant from the Beecroft Bequest and through individual donations from supporters.
The film above has been produced thanks to a grant from the Museum of London's London Museum Development Team.
The window is on display in the BDA Museum, see here for our opening times and further details.
