Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture
Durham University, 2019. (updated 2020)
Data copyright © Durham University unless otherwise stated
This work is licensed under the ADS Terms of Use and Access.
Primary contact
Durham University
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Durham
DH1 3LE
England
Resource identifiers
- ADS Collection: 351
Hexham 35, Northumberland
| Overview | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Object Type | Animal impost or frieze [1] | Measurements | H. 21.5 cm (8.5 in); W. 29 cm (11.25 in); D. Built in | Stone Type | Sandstone | Plate Numbers In Printed Volume | 1011 | Corpus Volume Reference | 190-191 |
| See table below for more views or larger images available for this item. Click on the thumbnail images to preview larger images. | ||
| Images | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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Hexham 35A (Plate no. 1011) Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture, University of Durham |
JPG | 3 Mb |
| National Grid Reference of Place of Discovery | ||
|---|---|---|
| NY935641 | ||
| Latitude | ||
| 54.971474 | ||
| Longitude | ||
| -2.103069 | ||
| Diocese | ||
| Newcastle | ||
| Present Location | ||
| Built into west wall of modern nave of abbey, inside | ||
| Evidence for Discovery | ||
| Found during reconstruction of 1899-1908, having been used as tread on medieval newel stair in west wall | ||
| Church Dedication | ||
| St Andrew | ||
| Present Condition | ||
| Damaged but unworn | ||
| Date | ||
| First half of eighth century | ||
| Earliest Date | ||
| 700 | ||
| Latest Date | ||
| 750 | ||
| Geological Period | ||
| Unspecified | ||
| Description | ||
| A (long): An animal in movement is contained at the top within a roll moulding. The base moulding is lost. The head is chipped away but part of the front leg survives. The mane is sketchily indicated by diagonal scratched lines. The body tapers markedly towards the haunches and the tail is hitched up over the back. The shape of the two back legs is now distorted. | ||
| Discussion | ||
| This piece has something in common with the other animals, 33-4. It is depicted in motion, is deeply cut, and has traces of undercoating for paint. The stone is different, however, and the finish rougher. Moreover the greater height of this piece seems to place it in a different if related group. The stance but not the scale is in some measure reminiscent of the Monkwearmouth arm-rests (nos. 15a-b), but this beast has perhaps a more Insular appearance than any of the other animals from Hexham in the treatment of the mane and the tapering hips. | ||
| References | ||
| Savage and Hodges 1907, 40-1; Hodges and Gibson 1919, 65; Collingwood 1925, 70, fig. 4G; Collingwood 1927, 28, fig. 34G; Taylor and Taylor 1961, 118; Taylor and Taylor 1965, 303; Taylor and Taylor 1966, 46; Cramp 1974, 119, 177, pl. 9D | ||
| Endnotes | ||
| 1. The following are general references to the Hexham stones: (—) 1855-7a, 45-6; Rowe 1877, 62-3; Allen 1889, 230; Bailey 1980, 79, 81, 83. | ||
| Subjects | ||
|---|---|---|
| Monument Form: Architectural | ||
| Monument Type: Frieze, Impost | ||
| Monument Feature: Animal | ||
| Monument Period (MIDAS term): Early Medieval | ||
| Horizon: Pre 920 | ||
