Large Virgin and Child, known as the Virgin of Montaigu, carved from wood, with a black patina and gold highlights, also known as the Black Virgin 18th century H.: 80 cm (minor imperfections) It is said that on an old oak tree in Montaigu-Scherpenheuvel—already venerated since the time of the Celts, the Franks, and the Germanic peoples, that the original statue of Our Lady of Montaigu—a roughly 30-centimeter-tall oak carving—is said to have been installed and to have become a pilgrimage site as early as the 13th century. In 1604, the bishop of Antwerp had the ancient oak tree supporting the statue cut down and used the wood to commission several small statues, which were distributed in Brussels, Mechelen, and Antwerp, as well as in France, Italy, Spain, and Canada.