Bench End
ca. 1470 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Bench-end, surmounted by a poppy-head resting on an ogee-moulding. One face is carved with trefoils, blind (and open) crocketted tracery, and finials. The elbow is formed by a seated animal with leonine paws and tail, 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.
Object details
| Categories | |
| Object type | |
| Materials and techniques | Carved oak |
| Brief description | English, 1470-1500 |
| Physical description | Bench-end, surmounted by a poppy-head resting on an ogee-moulding. One face is carved with trefoils, blind (and open) crocketted tracery, and finials. The elbow is formed by a seated animal with leonine paws and tail, 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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| Object history | Bought (with W.94-1911) 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.94-1911 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 | |
| Associated object | W.94-1911 (Ensemble) |
| Bibliographic reference | Charles Tracy, English Medieval Furniture and Woodwork (London, 1988), cat. no.185
'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 of the bench-end is cut with mortices for the seat, back and bookshelf. The elbow is formed by a grotesque animal or dragon, the support of which is decorated with sunk mouldings. (PLS. 66a and 66 b).
Oak. About 1470
Purchased
112 X 49.6 X 8.2 cm
Mus. No. W.95 -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.' |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | W.94-1911 |
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| Record created | December 3, 2008 |
| Record URL |
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