Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture Volume VII: South-West England

by Cramp, Rosemary

• ISBN13: 9780197263341
• ISBN10: 0197263348
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-07-27
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

This analytical catalogue of sculpture from the historic counties of Devon, Dorset, Somerset and Wiltshire provides a new perspective on the artistic achievement of the late Saxon kingdom. The volume includes individual pieces of the highest quality such as the Bradford-on-Avon and Winterbourne Steepleton angels or the newly discovered figures from Congresbury. Most of the monuments were carved at a time when Wessex art was at its zenith in the tenth and eleventh centuries, a formative period for English cultural identity. This volume sets the sculpture within an historical, topographical and art-historical context, highlighting the close links with contemporary styles in manuscripts and metalwork. Full photographic records of each monument present many new illustrations unique to this volume. An indispensable research tool for all those interested in the early medieval world, this volume is also an authoritative aid for local historians.

Table of Contents

List Of Figures	viii
List Of Tables	ix
Preface	xi
Acknowledgements	xii
Historical Background to The Sculpture	1	(12)
Introduction	1	(1)
The Romano-British heritage	1	(3)
The Anglo-Saxon impact	4	(1)
Conversion to Christianity	4	(2)
Mercian and West Saxon royal interests	6	(2)
The West Saxon hegemony and the establishment of ecclesiastical centres	8	(1)
Alfred, reforms and refoundations	8	(1)
Reforms and revivals in the tenth to eleventh centuries	9	(4)
Regional Geology by C. R. Bristow and B. C. Worssam	13	(12)
Stone types used for the sculptures	13	(12)
Dartmoor granite, by R. C. Scrivener	13	(3)
Lias Group, Blue Lias Formation	16	(1)
Lias Group, Bridport Sand Formation, Ham Hill Stone Member	16	(1)
Inferior Oolite Group, Upper Inferior Oolite `Formation', Doulting Stone Member	17	(1)
Great Oolite Group, Taynton Limestone Formation (Taynton stone)	18	(1)
Great Oolite Group, Chatfield Oolite Formation (Bath stone)	18	(2)
Great Oolite Group, Forest Marble Formation, Ancliff Oolite Member (Bradford stone)	20	(1)
Corallian Group, Osmington Oolite Formation/Todber Freestone and Clavellata Formation, Eccliffe Member	20	(1)
Portland Group, Portland Stone Formation, Tisbury and Upper Building Stone Members (Vale of Wardour) and Portland Freestone Member (Isle of Purbeck)	21	(2)
Purbeck Group, Durlston Formation, Peverel Point Member, Unio Beds Upper Greensand Formation, Shaftesbury Sandstone Member	23	(1)
Stones of uncertain provenance	23	(2)
Topography and Distribution	25	(3)
Earlier Research	28	(3)
Monument Types	31	(10)
Grave-markers and grave-covers	31	(1)
Crosses	32	(1)
Pyramidal stelae or cross-shafts	32	(4)
Cross-heads	36	(1)
Architectural sculpture	36	(2)
Fonts	38	(3)
Introduction to The Ornamental Repertoire	41	(16)
Interlace and geometric ornament	41	(1)
The ribbon animal phenomenon	42	(6)
Plant ornament	48	(3)
Acanthine ornament	51	(6)
Figural Imagery	57	(6)
Christ	57	(2)
Virgin and Child	57	(1)
Crucifixion and Redemption	58	(1)
Saints	59	(1)
St Peter	59	(1)
Other figures	59	(1)
Angels	59	(4)
The Inscriptions by J. Higgitt	63	(6)
The British inscribed stones of Devon and Somerset	63	(2)
Wareham	65	(1)
Anglo-Saxon inscriptions in the south-west	65	(2)
Inscriptions of uncertain classification	67	(1)
Conclusions	68	(1)
Regional Distinction and Problems of Dating	69	(6)
Context	69	(1)
Groupings	70	(1)
The lacertine animal group	71	(1)
Colyton and its relationships	72	(1)
Foliage and its context	73	(1)
Iconic figures	74	(1)
CATALOGUE: South-West England	75	(2)
Note	75	(2)
CATALOGUE: Devon	77	(18)
Appendixes A to B	90	(5)
CATALOGUE: Dorset	95	(38)
Appendixes A to B	128	(5)
CATALOGUE: Somerset	133	(64)
Appendixes A to D	181	(16)
CATALOGUE: Wiltshire	197	(48)
Appendixes A to C	236	(9)
Appendix H: British inscribed stones in Devon and Somerset, by J. Higgitt	245	(4)
Form and Motif Table	249	(12)
Bibliography	261	(24)
Photographic Acknowledgements; Note on reductions	285	(2)
Illustrations 1-42: Devon	287	(24)
Illustrations 43-163: Dorset	311	(26)
Illustrations 164-382: Somerset	337	(38)
Illustrations 383-526: Wiltshire	375	(40)
Illustrations 527-565: Comparative material	415	(16)
Index	431