St Vigeans Churchyard. Headstone with spink-boat, 1805.

Description St Vigeans Churchyard. Headstone with spink-boat, 1805.

Collection Papers of Betty Willsher, historian, St Andrews, Scotland

Catalogue Number SC 799392

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of AN 5414/3

Scope and Content Gravestone of Elisabeth, Mary and James Spink, St Vigeans Parish Church and Churchyard, St Vigeans, Angus This gravestone features a large winged soul (symbol of the spirit ascending to Heaven after death) with its recessed tympanum (top area). The soul has tiny incised eyes and curving lines around its head, perhaps symbolising a halo or bonnet. A boat-shaped panel below is carved with a rowing boat, anchor and two fishes, emblems of a fisherman or mariner. The carving of the anchor has been adjusted to fit the sides of the panel. Mariners' gravestones are usually very well carved with depictions of the ships and boats they sailed on. These often include tiny details of rigging, flags, sails and timbers suggesting the mason had studied the ships very carefully, or been to sea himself before carving their images onto the stone. The level of accuracy shown in these carvings can be compared to that found on scrimshaw (carved whalebones) of the 18th and 19th centuries. This gravestone commemorates Elisabeth and Mary Spink, who died in infancy, and James Spink who died in 1793. It is inscribed: 'John Spink/Mariner in Auchmithy/& Janet Swankie his/Spouse in Memory of/Three of their Children/viz: Elisabeth & Mary/who died in infancy & James who died 27 April/1793 aged 6 years./other 6 survives...'. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/799392

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap