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St. Apollonia

The exhibition, "St. Apollonia, Patron Saint of Dentistry," features art in the Museum's collection related to this iconic figure. As the ecclesiastical writer Eusebius explains, Apollonia was an old woman who fell victim to Roman persecutors of the 3rd century AD in Alexandria, Egypt. Her jaw was battered until all her teeth were knocked out. When pushed to renounce her Christian faith, Apollonia chose instead to martyr herself on a pyre. And thus, on February 9th, 249 AD, was born the saint and icon of comfort for any who suffer a toothache.

The exhibit unveils a previously unknown oil portrait showing a youthful St. Apollonia, likely to have been completed by a European artist as part of a church alterpiece. In the 1960s the painting was donated to the School of Dentistry and later was transferred to the Museum. In 2005, this painting underwent treatment by Kenneth Katz, of Conservation and Museum Services in Detroit.

The exhibit also features a bronze sculpture completed in 1981 by Carmen M. Nolla depicts St. Apollonia with an angel. Dr. Nolla received an MS in Pedodontics from the University of Michigan in 1952.

Research and selection was completed in 2005 by graduate student fellow in Classical Art and Archaeology, Karen Johnson.

Artifact Catalog

 

St. Apollonia reproduction print
Original image from a 14th century wood block print (4.5 x 6 in.)

This illustration of Apollonia depicts her with her insignia, a tooth held by a forceps. It is unusual, however, since it shows the saint in sympathetic gaze with a toothache sufferer. Typically, Apollonia stands alone. The wood cut was inspiration for the stamp issued below.

St. Apollonia postage stamp
1979, San Marino
SMD 632.1a

Stamp collection of Zelma R. Myers, former Registrar, School of Dentistry; Commemorating the 13th Biennial Congress of Dentists

 

Dental Forceps
Circa 1850-1925, United States
SMD 327.7, SMD 426.1b,  SMD161.204

Dental forceps are often considered the oldest tools of the trade whatever their shape or size, the function remains the same--for extraction. These three examples are some of the earliest in the Museum collection. The smallest pair was used by a traveling dentist in Ohio during the mid-19th century.

Bronze Sculpture of St. Apollonia, 1981
Dr. Carmen M. Nolla
SMD 161.1

As dentistry coalesced into a formalized profession especially throughout the 19th century, so too did it inherit a patron saint in Apollonia. Dr. Nolla, the artist of this piece, received an MS in Pedodontics from the University of Michigan in 1952.
 Before Conservation Treatment in 2005  After Conservation Treatment in 2005

Oil Painting of St. Apollonia
Mid-19th century, Northern Europe
SMD 1.43a

This painting portrays Apollonia as a young woman, the persona that quickly came to be associated with the saint. Images such as this were common in churches throughout Europe from the 14th century AD onward. Interestingly, evidence on the canvas itself suggests this portrait was part of a larger ensemble, perhaps an altarpiece.

These two photos illustrate before and after conservation treatment on the St. Apollonia portrait.

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