carving sculpture figure bishop

Carving of a bishop, seated, in sandstone. Crozier: continental type. Possibly part of a corbel table. There are, down the East coast, a number of figure carvings. The stone itself is from the band of Old Red Sandstone that stretches to Fermanagh.

unknown

Early: 1150 Late: 1300

stone sandstone

H: 420 mm W: 240 mm

Europe Scotland ? Ireland ?

This is a sculpture of a bishop, probably carved in Ireland, in Old Red Sandstone from Fermanagh. It is similar to other figure carvings found down the east coast of Ireland, and probably dates from between 1150 and 1300 AD, a fine example of medieval ecclesiastical sculpture. The sculpture is probably part of a corbel table, carved in continental style of high relief. The figure is seated, the head, arms and drapery are emphasised. The almond-shaped eyes and wedge nose are also seen in Irish sculpture of Early Christian date, but the figure is dressed in a chasuble with a crozier in his right hand and possibly a reliquary in the left, and these are a medieval form.