Tomb - effigial

The National Monuments Service's description

One of a large number of graveslabs (KK027-029005-; KK027-029015-, KK027-029016-, KK027-029021- to KK027-029051-) found at Kells Priory for Augustinian canons (KK027-029004-) which have been described and catalogued by Higgins (2007, 453-67).
The large limestone graveslab (L 2.29m; Wth at top 1.19m; Wth at base 1.01m; T 0.29m) of the head-slab type. The slab appears to be undecorated except for the head of a man and a woman carved in high false relief. The man, on the dexter side, has shoulder length hair, parted in the middle, over a semi-circular front piece and a long moustache and beard of almost equal length. He is described by Higgins as having thin but pouting lips, broad cheeks, a long nose, large ovid eyes with prominent eye ridges, and a high forehead. The woman is probably wearing a fillet across the top of her forehead with a short veil falling to her ears over shoulder length hair. She is described by Higgins as having a rounded chin, full pouting lips over a narrow mouth, long nose and large deeply set ovoid eyes with prominent eye ridges. The eyes of both are double-contoured to indicate eyelids. The slab covered a stone-lined graves at the N wall of the N transept of the priory church. According to Hunt (1974, vol. 1, 180-81) the slab probably dates to the late 13th century, but it could also be early 14th century in date. (Higgins 2007, cat. no. 31, 464-5, Pl. 3.3).

Ref.:
Higgins, J. 2007 The medieval funerary monuments. In M. Clyne, (ed.), Kells Priory, Co. Kilkenny: archaeological excavations by T. Fanning & M. Clyne, 453-67. Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Dublin.

See attached:
KK027-029048-_01 Illustration in Graves, Rev. J. 1864-6 Proceedings and papers. Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland 8, op. 187.
KK027-029048-_02 Photograph in Higgins, J. 2007 The medieval funerary monuments. In M. Clyne, (ed.), Kells Priory, Co. Kilkenny: archaeological excavations by T. Fanning & M. Clyne, 453-67.

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 7 June 2023

References

Clyne, M. 2007 Kells Priory, Co. Kilkenny: archaeological excavations by T. Fanning & M. Clyne. Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Dublin.