 |
 |
medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Jessica Boon wrote: > 'I have seen the nails arranged in such a fashion, I believe (on the frontispiece of an early printed book). Is there a chance the A with a line on the top is the nails, and the others are actual letters?' She's right. Three nails arranged in an 'A'-like pattern is a feature of several - perhaps many - Instruments of the Passion in West Country woodwork. And it's not at all unusual to see Instruments repeated among different bench ends (and I presume screens) with subtle variations thereof. The idea that the arrangements of nails might be spelling something is intriguing: I've certainly not come across this being done. I can think of late med Cornish initials - churchwardens, etc - and one long inscription in stone (on St Mary Mag Launceston) but that's about as far as it goes. Intriguing prospect. As for the blank shield and the dragon, I wouldn't read too much into it bar jobbing carpenters with space to fill. But I recall changing direction abruptly re your seahorse once I'd actually *seen* it, so do get a pic online if you can. Better still, I'm in Cornwall for a week from 6 August, and our previous discussions have whetted my appetite for St Buryan and area. If you are interested in the idea of one list member seeing these things in the flesh, do get in touch off-line! Can't promise anything, but potentially interested. Jon -----Original Message----- From: medieval-religion - Scholarly discussions of medieval religious culture [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Jessica A. Boon Sent: 27 July 2006 19:37 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Re: [M-R] a late mediaeval rood screen in a small Cornish church medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture Of the remaining ten, there is a Spear, a Hammer, a Crown of Thorns > hung on a Cross, a three-part Flail, a Pillar with Rope and something which > looks like a capital A with a line over the top (or a trestle table). I have seen the nails arranged in such a fashion, I believe (on the frontispiece of an early printed book). Is there a chance the A with a line on the top is the nails, and the others are actual letters? On a really far stretch, Francisco de Osuna has an elaborate metaphor in a book from the 1520s in which Christ is a merchant who spill the money of his blood out of his moneybag of a body onto the trestle table of the cross. But that is probably far too allegorical for your literalizing screen. Jessica A. Boon jboon at duke dot edu ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html ********************************************************************** To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME to: [log in to unmask] To send a message to the list, address it to: [log in to unmask] To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion to: [log in to unmask] In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to: [log in to unmask] For further information, visit our web site: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html