Enquiry information

THREE RARE 15TH CENTURY SCOTTISH MEDIEVAL OAK MISERICORD CHAIRS, ARGYLL WESTERN HIGHLANDS . CIRCA 1470.

THREE RARE 15TH CENTURY SCOTTISH MEDIEVAL OAK MISERICORD CHAIRS, ARGYLL WESTERN HIGHLANDS . CIRCA 1470.

THESE REMARKABLE CHAIRS ARE FREESTANDING WHICH IS VERY UNUSUAL AS THEY ARE NORMALLY FOUND CONJOINED IN ROWS WITHIN AN AREA DEVOTED TO THE CHURCH CHOIR. THE BACK MOULDED LEGS ARE SPLAYED OUTWARD AND JOINED BY A PINNED STRETCHER AS ARE THE FRONT ONES. THE DEEPLY CARVED IMAGERY ON ALL THREE CHAIRS CONSISTS OF A CENTRAL CARVED MISERICORD SEAT FLANKED ON EACH ARMREST BY UNUSUALLY PROMINENT CARVED FIGURES, EACH FIGURE WITH ITS OWN MEDIEVAL MEANING. THERE IS NO REAL EVIDENCE OF THEM EVER BEING CONJOINED, BUT IF THEY WHERE IT WAS POSSIBLY AT A STAGE VERY EARLY IN THEIR CONSTRUCTION. THESE THREE MISERICORD SEATS ARE VERY RARE SURVIVORS OF SCOTTISH MEDIEVAL FURNITURE. PROVENANCE- PURCHASED FROM A PRIVATE CHAPEL IN ARGYLLSHIRE, REPUTEDELY ORIGINALLY FROM THE ISLE OF LISMORE, IN THE INNER HEBRIDES OF SCOTLAND. THIS FERTILE LOW-LYING ISLAND LIES IN LOCH LINNHE AND WAS IN MEDIEVAL TIMES THE CENTRE OF CELTIC CHRISTIANITY , WITH A MONASTERY FOUNDED BY ST MOLUAG AND THE SEAT OF THE BISHOP OF ARGYLL. FURTHER PROVENANCE WILL BE GIVEN UPON REQUEST. 33.25" WIDE X 37" HIGH X 16" DEEP. EACH CHAIR HAS BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED AND DESCRIBED INDIVIDUALLY AND WILL ONLY BE SOLD TOGETHER AND NOT INDIVIDUALLY. STOCK NO 1462.