While we are on the subject of iconography in wood carving,
does anyone know anything of the symbolic meaning of Owls
in the middle ages and early modern period, with specific
reference to Christianity?
At The Vyne, a great house in Hampshire, England, there are
two Owls, one playing a flute, the other a drum, carved
into the freezes, along with green-men and various other
animals, above the choir stalls in the chapel. The Owl is
not associated with the Sandys family who lived their at
the time. These carvings date from the C.16th.
The owls, green men, and other creatures and individuals
are all incorporated into carved vine-scrolling, running
the length of the freeze on the front of the canopy over
the choir stalls.
I have not been able to find a heraldic or local, or royal
association (much of the C16th iconography, viz.
pomegranetes, in the rest of the house is associated with
Catherine of Aragon) and I don't agree with Horace Walpoles
assessment that the carvings in The Vyne's chapel are mere
whimsy, as this seems out of keeping with the devout
religiosity of the Sandys family.
What can anyone tell me about the Christian iconographic
significance of Owls, if any?
My apologies to Liz for hijacking her question!
Graham WM.
On Wed, 2 Feb 2000 07:23:18 -0000 Liz Pitman
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> I have just joined the medieval religion list
>
> I wonder if anyone can help me with any or all of
> the following:
>
> 1 the iconographic/imagery meaning of some of
> the flowers found as borders on the more baroque
> of funeral monuments I am researching. Whilst
> these are 18th century, the imagery is bound to be
> earlier. The main ones to be found are:
> daisies, roses, tulips, with occasional yew
> berries and stylised leaves that could be acanthus
> leaves. Sometimes urns (looking rather like
> waste paper baskets!) are found, as well as very
> cheerful painted angels!
>
> 2 Why James of Compostella is shown with a
> cockle shell as his pilgrim badge. My various
> books on saints do not throw any light on this.
>
> Liz Pitman
>
----------------------
Graham Williamson-Mallaghan
School of Classics and Theology
Queens Building
Queens Drive
University of Exeter
EX4 4QG
01392-676239
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