Tomb - effigial

The National Monuments Service's description

An effigial tomb of a knight is located adjacent to the N wall of the N aisle within the restored Cistercian abbey church (KK029-018001-) at Graiguenamanagh.
The effigy is described by Hunt (1974, vol. 1, 171-2; vol. 2 fig. 9) as, ‘a limestone slab from a tomb carved in high relief. The commemorated man is represented in the sword-grasping attitude, the left hand holding the scabbard, and the right the hilt of the sword. The left leg is crossed over the right. He is armed in transversely-banded mail. The head rests on a double cushion and is protected by a coif, the skull, which is of rounded form, being outlined by a heavier band than those composing the remainder of the headpiece. The neck and shoulder defences are continuous with the mail of the head, also covering the chin, and the face opening is rather heart-shaped in outline. The surcoat, which is tighter across the shoulder than those at Kilfane [KK028-013004-], is gathered at the waist by a girdle, and opens down the front over the thigh, falling in folds to the calf of the leg. The hauberk, vented in front, is long, descending to the top of the knee-cap, and the arms and legs are defended by mail in horizontal bands. The feet are missing, and there are no garters shown. The hands are defended by fingered mail gauntlets continuous with the sleeves of the hauberk. The sword has a short, strong, slightly arched cross, and is supported by a broad belt carried diagonally over the hips, secured by a buckle with the chape hanging down the front. The sheath is attached to the belt by a band and a lace, the ends of which hang in a loose knot in front’. Hunt discusses the armour in some detail and, stylistically, dates the effigy to the last quarter of the 13th century or early 14th century (ibid. 171).

Compiled by: Jean Farrelly

Date of upload: 16 March 2022

References

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