Peter Harbison's definitive three volume study of the High Crosses of
Ireland (Bonn 1992) gives excellent plates of most of the surviving Irish
crosses with iconograpichal discussion and bibliography. He does not
specifically mention the celtic tonsure in the index but my memory of the
plates is that a number of them depict ecclesiatics with the tonsure as
described by Pippin. The only example that I can think of off hand is an
orans figure from a cross slab in Gallen in Co. Offaly, but there are
others.
The best apples in the monastery orchard here are Cox's Pippins, which I
suppose is in keeping with excellence and bravery!
Colman O Clabaigh, OSB
Glenstal Abbey
-----Original Message-----
From: Pippin Michelli [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 17 August 1999 20:18
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: celtic tonsure
Don't know the most recent work, but received wisdom certainly _used_ to be
that the forehead was shaved from ear to ear and the hair parted centrally
and/or brushed backwards. You can see an apparent reference to this in the
Matthew Symbol in the Book of Durrow, and there is something similar on the
head at the front of the crest on the British Museum Crosier (more commonly
but wrongly known as the "Kells Crosier").
Pippin Michelli, Ph.D
Assistant Professor of Art History, St Olaf College
http://www.stolaf.edu/people/michelli/index4.html
-----Original Message-----
From: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, August 17, 1999 2:12 PM
Subject: celtic tonsure
>Does anyone know of recent work on the question of the nature
>of the celtic tonsure? what is 'received wisdom' as to what
>it looked like?
>thanks in advance,
>Margaret Cormack [log in to unmask]
>Dept. of Philosophy and Religion fax: 843-953-6388
>College of Charleston tel: 843-953-8033
>Charleston, SC 29424-0001
>
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