Anglo Saxon Cross Fragments
The following link from The Tolson Museum, Huddersfield,
includes an excellent article
illustrating and explaining all
our Saxon Stones.
York Museum’s Trust organised an exhibition, to celebrate
the 1700 th anniversary of Constantine becoming Roman Emperor,
while in York. The proclamation was made there in AD 306. The Exhibition
was described as ‘…the most important archaeological – historical
loan exhibition to have been held in a British provincial museum
ever’.
The Minster loaned the Trust three Saxon sandstone fragments.
They are thought to have been part of a huge cross, commemorating
Paulinus’ preaching and celebrating in Dewsbury AD 627.
Two of the stones are once again displayed with several others
in the Minster Heritage Centre while the Christ in Majesty stone
has returned to the Paulinus Chapel. The exhibition’s book/catalogue,
referenced below, includes a description by Jane Hawkes, and
superb photographs by Charlie Nickols. We are grateful to have
been allowed to present the photos on this website below.
The book is also available for viewing, but only at the Minster.
Book reference:
‘Constantine the Great: York’s Roman
Emperor’ by
Elizabeth Hartley, Jane Hawkes, Martin Henig and Frances Mee.
Hardback
ISBN 0 85331 928 6
Paperback ISBN 0 905807 21 9.
Lay interpretation of the text:
273 - 275: Dewsbury Columns in three pieces
These stones are different in several aspects (including the
figures’ size and the depth of their relief) to the other
Anglo-Saxon stones at Dewsbury. They were probably from the upper
part of a column section. Horizontal moulding with rope moulding
above bound them, marking perhaps where a round column stopped
and a square crosshead began. Set here were the figures of Christ
enthroned, flanked by his apostles, a scheme popularly associated
with Constantine in the Christian art of the later eighth and ninth
centuries. At this time sculptures had naturalistic, turning poses,
well-modelled faces and bodies could be made out under well-defined
classical garments. View a photograph of these exhibits in the
Yorkshire Museum, York 31st March - 29th October 2006.
[photo 5.2a in here]
 273
Column Fragment
Early 9th century
Under a plain moulding stand two figures. Above them two strands
of rope moulding sweep up to the left over the remains of a leaf.
The left figure is bearded with deeply drilled eyes. The figure
on the right has deeply drilled eyes and a well-modelled, clean-shaven
head with short hair. His full length, long sleeved under garment
is covered by a long over garment. A high collar round his neck
extends in bands down the front. Although he has no tonsure, his
dress is reminiscent of a priest’s or a monk’s clothing.
Over his chest, in his left hand, he holds a scroll.
 274 Column Fragment
Early 9th century
Three figures stand physically on an arcading. Beneath it are
pairs of figures, the heads and shoulders of which survive. One
has a well-moulded face with deeply drilled eyes. The damaged figures
above wear full-length robes, showing their limbs under slightly
upswept hems, and long over garments. The left and right figures
face forwards and the centre one turns left. The lower figures
may have illustrated narrative events, as on an early ninth century
column in Masham, Yorkshire.
 275 Column Fragment
Early 9th century
Above the figure of Christ enthroned in Majesty is an incomplete
inscription that reads: I HIS XLVS, possibly an incorrect abbreviation
for Iesus Christus. The halo has a narrow moulding round the rim
but no cross, as is usual with depictions of Christ. However, the
drilled eyes would have contained paste glass which means the sculpture
would have been coloured, so the halo probably had a coloured cross.
Christ is clean-shaven with long hair knotted by the ears, following
Anglo-Saxon tradition. His stylised over garment falls in folds
and is draped over his left arm. In his left hand he holds a scroll.
His disproportionately large right hand is held palm outwards,
as with other carved images of Christ from Dewsbury, emphasising
Christ’s blessing. A moulding, visible to the right
of Christ, indicates he was probably framed and separated from
the neighbouring apostles. |
