Cross - High cross

The National Monuments Service's description

Fragment of a possible high cross that originally came from Clonmacnoise but is now housed in the National Museum of Ireland.

Described by Harbison (1992 vol. 1, 57) as following: 'In the National Museum in Dublin there are some fitting sandstone fragments from Clonmacnois (Inv. No. 1929: 1494-6). The top of the upper fragment is so damaged that it is difficult to know whether it formed part of a pillar or cross. Together, the fragments measure about 90vm in height, and they are 35cm wide and 18cm thick. Their edges have been damaged, and the panels are framed by a raised moulding. There is a large tenon at the bottom, but no trace of a mortise hole on top. Only one face is decorated, suggesting that it may have originally stood against a wall.

MAIN FACE
Three deeply-carved pelta motifs one above the other and rising from a double raised moulding below. At each end they roll into a three-coil spiral terminating in pierced lobes. There is a 'drop' appended to the centre of the pelta, which is formed of two facing trumpet-ends, above which there is a three-pointed interlace.

LEFT SIDE
A panel of interlace.

RIGHT SIDE
A vertical panel divided into three sections. In the centre there is an interlace. Above and below it there are two sunken crosses surrounded by a stepped raised moulding, outside which there is a further stepped moulding with a square in the outer corners'.

Compiled by: Caimin O'Brien.

Date of upload: 23 May 2011

References

Harbison, P. 1992 The high crosses of Ireland: an iconographical and photographic survey, 3 vols. Dublin. Royal Irish Academy. Bonn. Dr. Rudolf Habelt GMBH.