The Corpus: Winchester (Old Minster) 74

Volume 4: South-East England

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Current Display: Winchester (Old Minster) 74, Hampshire

Overview

Object type: Fragment with bird's head

Measurements: H. 8 > 4 cm (3.1 > 1.6 in); W. 9 > 4 cm (3.5 > 1.6 in); D. 4 > 0.5 cm (1.6 > 0.2 in)

Stone type: Pale grey, slightly yellowish, medium-grained, oolitic limestone, with little or no interstitial cement and a few thin shell fragments; Portland stone, Portland Limestone Formation, Portland Group, Upper Jurassic; Isle of Portland or Isle of Purbeck

Plate numbers in printed volume: Ill. 617

Corpus volume reference: Vol 4 p. 309

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Present Location

Winchester City Museum, Historic Resources Centre, Hyde House, Winchester, accessions no. 2943 WS 3071

Evidence for Discovery

Found in archaeological excavation north of Winchester cathedral in 1963 in demolition rubble over the north porticus of Old Minster, and perhaps derived from the baptistery; Final Phase 58 (Provisional Phase 863), c. 1093-4

Church Dedication

Old Minster

Present Condition

No dressed faces survive; the carved face is well preserved, and there are traces of whitewash.

Description

This is the head of a bird looking left, raised 10–16 mm above the background. The head has a curved outline. The beak is indicated by two lines and the eye by a pointed circle with a deep central puncture. The junction between head and neck is perhaps indicated by a groove.

Discussion

This could be the head of a dove, which would be appropriate for the baptistery. The piece is similar in feel to the head of a fish from Hexham, Northumberland, no. 20 (Cramp 1984, ii, pl. 179 (956)).

Date

Late seventh century?

References

Biddle and Kjølbye-Biddle forthcoming a, fig. 151, no. 75

M.B.; B.K.-B.

Endnotes