Tomb - chest tomb (present location)

The National Monuments Service's description

In the OPW store, Kilkenny (Kilkenny depot stone carving number: KD009). Portion of an end slab of a limestone chest tomb (L 0.55m; H 0.24m; T 0.13m), carved in false relief. The lower sinister portion of a Crucifixion panel with Christ on the cross in the centre and St John on the sinister side, both from the waist down, though the elbow of the bent left arm of St John is evident. The dexter portion of the panel, depicting Our Lady, is broken off. However, the upper portion (KK019-026375-) depicting the head and torso of Our Lady is also in the Kilkenny depot. The panel has a flat raised border (Wth 0.03m). The cross rests on a rectangular base and Christ’s feet are overlapping, the right over the left, with a single nail through both. The folds of Christ’s loin cloth drape down. St John is wearing a pleated garment over which is depicted a mantle or brat which is gathered under his left elbow.
It is similar to an end slab (TS061-025150-) from St Patrick’s Cathedral, Cashel, Co. Tipperary which Hunt (1974, vol. 1, 223) describes as, ‘a late degenerate production closely connected with the O’Tunney workshop’ (Hunt 1974, vol. 1, 223 no. 229a; vol. 2, plate 301). Stylistically this dates to the late 16th century.

See attached:
KK019-026375-_01 (photograph by Chris Corlett)
KK019-026375-_02 Both fragments (KK019-026374- and KK019-026375-) (photograph by Chris Corlett)

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 25 January 2023

References

Hunt, J. 1974 Irish medieval figure sculpture 1200-1600, 2 vols. Dublin. Irish University Press.