Enquiry information

AN EXTREMELY RARE PAIR OF ANGLO-NORMAN OAK ZOOMORPHIC COLUMN/ SARCOPHAGUS SUPPORTERS. CIRCA 1300-1350.

TRACES OF ORIGINAL POLYCHROME REMAINS. SCULPTURED AS MYTHICAL BEASTS IN A RECUMBENT POSE, HALF LION HALF MAN, EACH WEARING A CHAINMAIL COIF OVER THEIR HEADS AND WITH UPTURNED MOUSTACHES.

What's striking is how the anthropoid heads with their up-tuned moustaches resemble corbel heads at the famous Herefordshire Romanesque church of St Mary and St David, Kilpeck (particularly, those from the corbel table at the apse), which was built by Hugh, son of William fitzNorman, c. 1134. The strong Anglo-Norman atmosphere of these sculptures is enhanced by the heads seeming to be shown wearing mail coifs - something often depicted in Anglo-Norman art. The atlantean supporters for the Romanesque font (closely related in style and execution to the work at Kilpeck) at St Michael, Castle Frome is also relevant to the writhing posture of these sculptures. The Antho- zoomorphism of the figures is similar to the figures of the Gloucester Candlestick, which was commissioned c. 1107-1113 by Abbot Peter for the Abbey of St Peter, Gloucester.


STOCK NO 2056.