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Chapters for this volume, along with copies of original in-text images, are available here.
Object type: Shaft fragment [1]
Measurements: H. 42 cm (16.5 in) W. 26.8 > 26 cm (10.6 > 10 in) D. 15 > 14.3 cm (5.9 > 5.6 in)
Stone type: Medium-grained deltaic sandstone with well sorted sub-angular grains. This sculpture is prominently point dressed. Dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4). Locally derived channel sandstone from the Saltwick Formation, Aalenian, Middle Jurassic. There are numerous quarries to the east of Easington towards the coast at Boulby Cliff and to the west on the North York Moors. Many of the older buildings in the village and nearby properties are built of similar stone.
Plate numbers in printed volume: Ills. 190–2
Corpus volume reference: Vol 6 p. 103
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A (broad) : A flat edge moulding 1 inch wide survives at the right, flanking a single panel containing two animals from a beast chain. They are deeply incised on a flat surface. They are broad, sinuous, and their torsos and legs taper in shallow curves. The first, more complete beast has traces of a spiral joint on the leg-joint; its hind leg is hoofed, the ankle fastened by a loop. The stoat-like body undulates in a pouncing position. The long neck is straight and tapers. The foreleg, hoofed and looped, extends forwards. An extended ear lappet streams backward adjacent to the edge moulding; after a loop it is wound into a step fret twist and terminates in a loop. The second beast interlocks with the first. It has no tail.
B (narrow) : The plain edge mouldings are damaged. The panel contains a simple pattern F symmetrical loop (a Carrick bend), with a glide of two lying strands to the loop of the next register.
C (broad) : The edge moulding at the right tapers slightly. The panel contains worn interlace of simple pattern E with diagonals and Stafford knot terminals. The cutting is picked work. The width of the broad strand varies.
D (narrow) : Scabbled.
This fragment is the only example of a beast-chain in the region, which is a feature of the York Metropolitan school and its reflexes (Lang 1991, 39–40). Like York Minster 2 (ibid., ill. 13), the beasts interlock but here their torsos are clear of body-extensions, only the ankle loops approach fettering. There is a grace and fluidity in the movement which suggests competent free-hand design rather than gridding. The interlace patterns are also more sophisticated than the customary densely woven closed circuits of much neighbouring sculpture. The step-twist helps in dating it to the tenth century but the Anglian survival is very strong.
