Rights Holder: Lincolnshire County Council
CC License:
Our images can be used under a CC BY attribution licence (unless stated otherwise).
Unique ID: LIN-6394F9
Object type certainty: Certain
Workflow
status: Awaiting validation
An anthropomorphic gilt copper alloy terminal of later medieval or early post-medieval date, probably from a processional cross. The terminal is in the form of a three-dimensional, solid, bust of what appears to be a male ecclesiastical figure, and probably which represents St John. Only the upper body and head of the bust are shown. The features are worn, but the individual has a cap or bowl-like haircut, and round face. He appears to be looking downwards, with his head turned slightly to his right. This may indicate that he was positioned on the right of the cross so as to look towards the centre. The figure is robed or cloaked, with the drapes expressed through vertical lines to the rear and diagonal lines to the front of the upper and lower body. The right arm bent at the elbow so that the hand is raised with palm pointing outwards, in a typical medieval ecclesiastical pose. The left arm appears to be lying straight against his side, but at the bottom there is a rectangular panel in relief, probably representing a bible. The panel is decorated with four incised lines, probably radiating from a central point below the bottom edge. The base of the figure is flat. An integral shank of circular section extends from the centre. The base of the shank is worn, smooth, and is probably complete.
The figure is probably ecclesiastical, and possibly was part of a larger object such as a reliquary or processional cross. The pose and style of the present example recalls many of the features seen on a processional cross mount of late medieval or post-medieval date depicting St John, found at Castle Hedingham, Essex (PAS ref. ESS-CE7F01). Indeed, it is possible that the top of the rectangular feature seen on the present example is, in fact, a bible which is more clearly seen on the example from Castle Hedingham. Both bibles are decorated with incised lines. The Castle Hedingham example is full length, however, but has a shank extending from the feet.
Information taken from the PAS database record for the Castle Hedingham example states:
Philip Wise (2010, A re-assessment of the figures of the Virgin and St John from medieval crucifixion groups) explains that such figures are from a crucifixion group, comprising figures of the Virgin Mary and St John standing on either side of Christ, that once formed part of a processional or altar cross. In complete examples, the processional cross is actually formed of four parts: a lower section with a knop, one end of which fitted onto a wooden stave and the other of branched form with three slots to take the central crucifix and the left and right supporters; the crucifix itself with Christ on a cross whose arms terminate in roundels bearing the symbols of the four evangelists; the left supporter (as viewed from the front) or Virgin Mary on a double right-angled arm ending in a tapering tang and the right supporter or St John mounted on a similar arrangement. Alternatively when assembled as an altar cross it would have had a six-lobed base surmounted by a dome, upon which a small crown would have acted as the seating for the shaft of the cross and the supporting figures. Wise suggests that figures of St John fall within two categories, those being 'refined' and 'crude' figures. The figure recorded here falls within the 'refined' group, and has been published as Wise (2010, 378; note 7).
Wise comments that of recently discovered 'refined' gilt-bronze figures of St John there are four which are remarkably similar. These are from Marks Tey (Colchester Museums accession number COLEM: 2002.154), Rainham, Greater London (Portable Antiquities Scheme record ESS-5CD8F0), the Isle of Sheppey, Kent (British Museum catalogue number MME 1991.5-5.1) and an unprovenanced find sold at Christies in 2003 (July 4 1991 (lot 25) and again on 12 December 2003 (lot 127). The figure recorded here also fits within this group. It is particularly similar to the Marks Tey and Rainham figures. Wise suggests they are all of English manufacture and argues for a date in the late 14th century. It seems very likely that they were products of the same workshop, possibly located in London. It is possible that there was an original design by an accomplished artist, who may have been a goldsmith. There is documentary evidence that goldsmiths could make base metal items for church use at this period (see C. Oman, 'English Medieval Base Metal Church Plate', Archaeological Journal CXIX (1962), 200, note 1, 195). 'Crude' figures of St John (examples of which are Portable Antiquities Scheme records KENT3393 and SF-D33492) date to the 15th century. Wise explains that finds such as the figure recorded here and the Marks Tey figure are clearly in what is called the International Gothic Style, which flourished in painting and sculpture across a large part of Europe from around 1380 onwards. This is characterised by the powerful modelling of the face and the intricate delineated treatment of the drapery. There were many foreign craftsmen at work in London at this time, and they influenced English artists and metalworkers. Such foreign craftsmen came from Italy, the Low Countries and probably Bohemia, as a result of the influence of Richard II's queen, Anne. The figure recorded here is an example of this continental court style spreading out from the capital into the provinces.
References:
Subsequent action after recording: Returned to finder
Broad period: MEDIEVAL
Period from: MEDIEVAL
Period to: POST MEDIEVAL
Date from: Circa AD 1400
Date to: Circa AD 1530
Quantity: 1
Length: 46 mm
Width: 18 mm
Thickness: 9 mm
Weight: 22.96 g
This information is restricted for your access level.
Primary material: Copper alloy
Manufacture method: Cast
Completeness: Complete
Surface Treatment: Gilded
Grid reference source: Generated from computer mapping software
Unmasked grid reference accurate to a 1 metre square.
No references cited so far.