- 161
English, 18th/19th century in 12th century style
Estimate
10,000 - 15,000 USD
bidding is closed
Description
- Corbel head
- limestone with traces of polychromy
- English, 18th/19th century in 12th century style
Provenance
Sir Francis Hill;
English Private Collection;
With Foster-Gwin Antiques, San Francisco
English Private Collection;
With Foster-Gwin Antiques, San Francisco
Catalogue Note
Sir Francis Hill (1899-1980), mayor of Lincoln, Chancellor of the University of Nottingham, and a distinguished historian and archaeologist of medieval Lincolnshire, uncovered the present piece in the early foundation of St. Peter at Arches in Lincoln while supervising its demolition in 1933.
The 12th century in England was marked by a transition from native regional idioms of church decoration to increasingly sophisticated and cosmopolitan stone carving styles influenced by French and Continental developments.
The boldly carved eyes, whimsically stylized hair and moustache, and deeply chiseled teeth are characteristic of mid 12th century English Romanesque carvings, while the vertical form, heavily drilled high relief, and traces of pigment suggest a date closer to the the 13th/14th century. As a result of the iconoclasm of successive ages, particularly in protestant England, extant architectural elements of this period are rare.
The 12th century in England was marked by a transition from native regional idioms of church decoration to increasingly sophisticated and cosmopolitan stone carving styles influenced by French and Continental developments.
The boldly carved eyes, whimsically stylized hair and moustache, and deeply chiseled teeth are characteristic of mid 12th century English Romanesque carvings, while the vertical form, heavily drilled high relief, and traces of pigment suggest a date closer to the the 13th/14th century. As a result of the iconoclasm of successive ages, particularly in protestant England, extant architectural elements of this period are rare.