MEDIEVAL CARVING

Carved stone head of probable medieval or post-medieval date (1300 - 1600) The stone head is carved from a block of light yellow - cream coloured carboniferous limestone with a significant amount of small angular grit inclusions. This type of limestone is local to the north of Shropshire. The block is sub-rectangular in plan with tapering vertical sides. It is also sub-rectangular in both profile and cross section. The carving measures 31.6cm in length, 15.8cm in width, and is 11.5cm thick. It weighs 6.2kg. The block of stone is carved on five of the six faces. The front face of the block is the most intricately carved, but the design and execution of the carving is crude. Here a long angular face is depicted wearing a tall sub-triangular hat. The face consists of a high forehead, under this are two inset eyes; both of these are well executed showing both the upper and lower eyelids as well as possible central pupils. The nose is flattened and runs into the upper lip of a hollow deeply carved down-turned mouth. The chin is rounded. Below the chin are three horizontal bands which might represent either a stock or ruff. The hat on top of the head is sub-triangular with a series of vertical carved ribs. The hat might be a representation of a bishop’s mitre. The upper face of the carving is chiseled flat and also much worn, almost polished. The two vertical sides are each carved with four vertical ribs. The bottom face has also been chiseled flat, but is set at a downward sloping angle. The rear of the block is not carved; instead it is badly cracked and uneven. This is likely to have been a result of frost action and erosion. The whole carved block is covered with a light green lichen and several patches have moss and other plants growing. This is prevalent around the deeply carved areas, such as the eyes and mouth. Several areas have also been badly worn or eroded; this might be due to original wear or its subsequent reuse It is likely that this stone carving is from a building and could have been either part of a corbel (a decorative projecting stone used to support the weight of a roof) or a decorative carving similar to a gargoyle. A medieval or post-medieval date has been suggested entirely on the style of carving and the design of the possible ruff and mitre.