Bench End
ca. 1470 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Until bench seating was installed in the naves of many English churches during the 1400s, the congregation stood or knelt during the Mass. Bench ends often carry a distinctive carved 'poppy head', from the French 'poupee' (figurehead). Many are variations on the fleur-de-lis, a symbol of purity often associated with the Virgin Mary. Forming the elbow of this bench-end is a seated dragon, symbol of the Devil. In the context of a church building, monstrous creatures were probably intended to ward off evil thoughts.
This bench end came from a Suffolk church and corresponds very closely in style with those still in situ at Stowlangtoft and Barningham villages churches in Suffolk. For this reason it is likely that it was supplied by the same (unidentified) workshop in the nearby town of Bury St Edmunds.
This bench end came from a Suffolk church and corresponds very closely in style with those still in situ at Stowlangtoft and Barningham villages churches in Suffolk. For this reason it is likely that it was supplied by the same (unidentified) workshop in the nearby town of Bury St Edmunds.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Parts | This object consists of 2 parts.
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| Materials and techniques | Carved oak |
| Brief description | English (Suffolk), 1470-1500, oak from pew end, 1470-1500, oak |
| Physical description | Bench-end, surmounted by a poppy-head resting on an ogee-moulding. One face is carved with trefoils, crocketted tracery, and finials. The elbow is formed by a dragon, the support of which is decorated with sunk mouldings. The other face of the bench-end is cut with mortices for the seat, back and bookshelf. |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Object history | Bought (with W.95-1911) for £45 from Basil Dighton, 38 Bedford Square, London (RF 11/6439). H. Clifford Smith noted (21/11/11) that 'they are reputed to have come from East Anglia: but the owners are unable to state their provenance precisely...A portion of one of the poppy heads, & the head of one of the animals has been restored, they appear otherwise to be in original condition.' From a Suffolk church. Charles Tracy noted that this bench end and W.95-1911 correspond in style with those at Stowlangtoft and Barningham in Suffolk, and must be of the same workshop. Given the proximity of both parishes to Bury St Edmonds, and the date given to the Stowlangtoft benches (1450-1500), an attribution to an unidentified Bury workshop seems reasonable. |
| Production | Suffolk |
| Subject depicted | |
| Summary | Until bench seating was installed in the naves of many English churches during the 1400s, the congregation stood or knelt during the Mass. Bench ends often carry a distinctive carved 'poppy head', from the French 'poupee' (figurehead). Many are variations on the fleur-de-lis, a symbol of purity often associated with the Virgin Mary. Forming the elbow of this bench-end is a seated dragon, symbol of the Devil. In the context of a church building, monstrous creatures were probably intended to ward off evil thoughts. This bench end came from a Suffolk church and corresponds very closely in style with those still in situ at Stowlangtoft and Barningham villages churches in Suffolk. For this reason it is likely that it was supplied by the same (unidentified) workshop in the nearby town of Bury St Edmunds. |
| Associated object | W.95-1911 (Ensemble) |
| Bibliographic reference | Charles Tracy, English Medieval Furniture and Woodwork (London, 1988), cat. no.184
'Stall or Bench-Ends, one of twenty-six, mostly fragmentary. From the chancel and nave of St Nicholas Chapel, King's Lynn. About 1419. Mus. Nos. W.2-1916 to W.11-1916; Mus. Nos. W.14, W.16 to W.18, W.20; W.56 to W.60-1921; Mus. Nos. Circ.26, Circ.36 to 39, Circ.41-1921.
For the history of these carvings, see the misericords from St Nicholas, King’s Lynn (Mus. Nos. W.6-1921, W.9-1921, W. 10-1921, W.11-1921, W. 12-1921, W54-1921). Some of the fragments are recorded in the catalogue of the Royal Architectural Museum, Westminster, published in 1877
Bench-Ends, one of two (W.94 -1911, W.95-1911). Each is surmounted by a poppy-head resting on an ogee moulding. This face is carved with trefoils, crocketted tracery, and finials. The elbow is formed by a grotesque animal or dragon, the support of which is decorated with sunk mouldings. (PLS. 66a and 66b).
Oak. About 1470
Purchased
112 X 49.6 X 8.2 cm
Mus. No. W.94 -1911
From a Suffolk church, these bench-ends correspond in style with those at Stowlangtoft (FIG. 40) and Barningham in Suffolk, and must be of the same workshop.'
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| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.94-1911 |
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| Record created | December 1, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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