BRCHN/1

Corpus Refs:none
Site:BRCHN
Discovery:non-arch dig, 1782 inc
History:Stuart/1856, 43, notes that it was dug up in a garden, formerly part of an ancient churchyard near the Cathedral [CISP: presumably these are the gardens, called `the College Yards', to the west of the Cathedral noted in the NMRS/NO56SE22 as the site of the céli Dé monastery which preceded the Cathedral].

Thomas/1980, 22: `the date 1782 carved in the top left panel of the main face may indicate the year in which the stone was found'.

Okasha/1985, 49--50: `probably after 1848 and certainly by 1903 the stone was moved to the chapel at Aldbar, near Brechin where it remained till 1934 when it was presented to the Cathedral by R.A. Chalmers of Aldbar'.

Geology:Okasha/1985, 50: `Lower Old Red Sandstone, probably Arbuthnott Group and probably quarried'.
Dimensions:0.97 x 0.91 x 0.17 (Okasha/1985)
Setting:in struct
Location:on site
Okasha/1985, 50: `set into the interior north wall of the chancel arch of the nave of Brechin cathedral, facing west'.
Form:cross-slab
Okasha/1985, 50: `a rectangular portion of a cross-slab'.

Carved in relief on the three visible faces.

Condition:frgmntry , some
Richardson/1964, 8: `the slab has been split in its thickness and the carved back is lost'.

The upper and lower portions are missing.

The date 1782 has been carved in the upper left panel of the main face.

Folklore:none
Crosses:1: latin; outline; straight; plain; square; ind; inner curv; ind; decorated
Decorations:animal; band; beading; frame

Okahsa/1985, 50: `cross head surrounded by panels, with relief carving in all the panels and in the central medallion. There is also relief carving on the sides.'

The large central medallion contains a representation of the Virgin and Child. The upper arm contains a bird of prey, the horizontal arms each contain a winged figure holding a book, and in the lower arm there are the remains of two figures with the nimbus around their heads. The cross arms divide the background into four panels. The upper two contain the remains of two winged figures, the lower two, symbols of the Evangelists John and Mark. The outlines of medallion and cross are emphasised with roll mouldings.

On the sides, there is a standing human figure in a panel corresponding to the end of each horizontal cross arm.

The most detailed study of the iconography is Werner/1972, 21--22, but see Henderson in Okasha/1985, 50, for a critique of his proposed early dating.

References


Inscriptions


BRCHN/1/1

Readings

Allen, R. (1903)::S~: MARIA: M~R~: X~R~I~ :
Expansion:
: S(ANCTA) : MARIA : M(ATE)R : XR(IST)I
Translation:
Saint Mary the Mother of Christ.
Allen/Anderson/1903 249 reading only
Okasha, E. (1985)::S~:MARI || A:MR~:X~RI
Expansion:
: S(ANCTA) : MARIA : M(ATE)R : XR(IST)I
Translation:
St Mary, the mother of Christ.
Okasha/1985 inc reading only

Notes

Orientation:circular
Position:W ; broad ; on cross ; other
Set around the carving inside the central medallion, on the background to either side of the Virgin's head.
Incision:incised
Okasha/1985, 50: `incised'.
Date:866 - 899 (Okasha/1985)
Henderson in Okasha/1985, 50: `within the context of Scoto-Pictish sculpture the form, style, and iconography make a date towards the end of the ninth century more appropriate' [than Werner/1972, 21--22, who dates it to the second half of the eighth century.
Language:Latin (rbook)
Ling. Notes:none
Palaeography:Allen/Anderson/1903:249: `angular Hiberno-Saxon minuscule'.

Okasha/1985, 50: `Insular script'.

Legibility:good
Okasha/1985, 50: `the text is legible and complete'.
Lines:1
Carving errors:
Doubtful:no

Names

References