Tomb - chest tomb (present location)

The National Monuments Service's description

Originally from Athassel Abbey (TS068-013----), Co. Tipperary. Currently in the OPW store, Kilkenny (Kilkenny depot stone carving number: KD030).
One of five fragments of this chest tomb which are stored in the Kilkenny Depot (see also KK019-026383-; KK019-026393-; KK019-026395- and KK019-026396-), though three of the pieces consist of two or more pieces which have been glued together.
An end piece (Wth 0.19m; H 0.18m; T 0.124m) of a side panel, composed on Dundry stone, with the lower angle of a niche defined by columns, terminated by a flat pilaster. A smaller piece of the pilaster had broken away and has been glued. This piece seems to fit neatly onto the dexter side of the fragment with the two knights (KK019-026393-) and there are indications that it was previously glued to it. The depth of this piece is less than that of the main block to which it appears to fit, however, this appears to be deliberate and not the result of breakage or spalling.
The tomb pieces indicate that the Athassel chest tomb, of which one side panel is on display in the Vicars Choral (see TS061-025005-), at the Rock of Cashel, Co. Tipperary, was a free-standing structure (Manning 2005, 133). Dated by Hunt (1974, vol. 1, 219-20) and Manning (2005, 134) to the late 13th/early 14th century.

See attached photograph:
KK019-026394-_01 (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.