|
Author
|
Topic: Statuary, Trim, Moulding, and Tile
|
canadab
Senior Member
|
posted 01-14-2000 08:13 AM
  
Other than ornamental carving in the facade, How much statuary was involved in the medeival castle? I have seen little other than reliefs outside of the middle eastern and italian structures. The statuary seems absent during this period (whether from damage or theft or never having been placed)despite the glorious statue and monument building of antiquity and the renaisance period thereafter. Anyone else notice this trend or have any other information? I am using ornamental cobble, statuary, fountains, and other stonework... but I don't recall seeing all this in any unrestored (improved and modernized for habitation) medeival castle. I have been getting quotes from a distributor of stonework and molds in TX. I will include their website as a reference.http://www.doubledstatuary.com/flyers.htmBrian Canada
aka Amberein du la Anair ------------------
If you can dream it, you can make it a reality. |
wurdsmiff
unregistered
|
posted 01-14-2000 12:21 PM
This depended entirely on how wealthy the builder was, and at Linlithgow Palace in the Lothians in Scotland there is much of this, and it is being restored. The smaller castles over here tended not to be so extravagant, at least until the 17th century, when new ways were being found of extracting wealth from the land, allowing lesser landholders the means to ornament their grounds and homes. Another point is that at the same time, with the Union of the Crowns in 1603, the need for fortifications was perceived to be lessening, attack was less likely and ornamentation more likely to survive. It therefore became worthwhile. Sundials were often greatly ornamented, and are the most common artefacts.
Incidently, theft has always been and still is a major problem, as garden ornaments become more popular. In the case of one small Scottish keep, recently sold, a couple of ornamental animals which once supported a sundial of the 17th century, disappeared between the property being vacated and being sold on. This despite a relatively difficult and remote access.------------------
'Give me the groves that lofty brave,
The storms, by Castle Gordon'.
Visit my web-site at
www.castlesontheweb.com/members/wurdsmiff/castles.htm Gordon. [This message has been edited by wurdsmiff (edited 01-14-2000).] |
Philip Davis
unregistered
|
posted 01-14-2000 01:10 PM
I can think of several english and welsh castles which have decorative, carved coat of arms over the main gate to the castle or the main door to the great hall. Carew, Warkworth, Lancaster have noteworthy remains. Alnwick is noted for the statutes on it's battlements, although I believe these are 19th century. An alternative, and earlier form of decoration, is the use of blind arcading at Castle Rising and Norwich castle and, the somewhat later, blind arcading and arcaded parapet at Swansea. I'm of the opinion that statuary was a part of the major castles but that much has be lost to erosion, robbing and 17th century iconoclasts.------------------
Neurotics build castles in the air, psychotics live in them, Psychiatrists charge the rent, art therapists do the interior design and nurses clean out the garderobes!
http://www.castlesontheweb.com/members/philipdavis/index.html
| |
UBBFriend: Email This Page to Someone!
Castle Quest
