France, probably Loire Valley, 16th century Saint Eloi, patron saint of many metalworking guilds Fragmentary limestone figure Resting on a fully carved base, the front of his workbench is decorated with tools, probably a pair of pliers and an anvil. Height: 67 cm (27 ¼ in.) Provenance : French private collection since the 1960s. Comparative bibliography : R. Giorgi & D. Férault, Les saints, Hazan, Paris 2003, pp. 115-118. A carved fragmentary limestone figure of Saint Eloi, Patron saint of many metalworking guilds, French, probably Loire Valley, 16th century Saint Eloi was chosen as the patron saint of many metalworking guilds: goldsmiths, gold beaters, copper gilders, bell makers, cutlers and locksmiths, blacksmiths and farriers, saddlers, horse owners (because of the horse whose foot he miraculously glued back together after shoeing), carters and mule drivers, farmers, ploughmen and farmhands. He is often depicted with pincers and a hammer topped with a crown, an anvil and a horseshoe.