Detail of West face of headstone to James Brown 1695. Digital image of A 34906 PO.

Description Detail of West face of headstone to James Brown 1695. Digital image of A 34906 PO.

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

Catalogue Number SC 800932

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of A 34906 PO

Scope and Content West face of a gravestone commemorating James Brown, St Mary's Church, Carnwath, South Lanarkshire At the top of this stone is a winged soul, its head and wings forming the memorial's unusual curving shape and represents James Brown's soul, rising to heaven. In contrast, the large skull on crossbones signifies death, urging the viewer to consider their own mortality. The remaining emblems offer an insight into his working life which, according to the inscription, was as a 'merchant', though the roll of meat and set of scales show he was actually a shopkeeper. Although not used here, most 17th- and 18th-century memorials commemorating merchants or shopkeepers use a symbol resembling the figure '4', derived from the arms of the Stirling Guildry (an association of merchants in that city). The mark is found across Scotland, and in Edinburgh has been found carved into door lintels of early 17th century date. Similarly, the scales used on this memorial were a common merchant's emblem, essentially being the 'tools of their trade'. However this emblem could hold another and more spiritual meaning by referring to the weighing of souls at the gates of Heaven. This gravestone commemorates James Brown, who died in 1695. According to a 1991 transcription, the inscription reads: 'HERE LYES JAMES BROVN/MERCHANT IN CARNATH WHO/DYED THE YEAR 1695/AND OF HIS AGE THE 68 YEAR/THIS IS THE BURIAL PLACE/OF THE ELDERS OF CARNATH'. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/800932

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap