St Vigeans 9 Description of stone
Event ID 1028454
Category Descriptive Accounts
Type Early Medieval Carved Stones Project
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1028454
St Vigeans 9 (St Vigianus), Angus, cross-head fragment
Measurements: H 0.56m, W 0.33m, D arm 0.18m, central boss 0.32m
Stone type: sandstone
Place of discovery: NO c 6384 4289
Present location: in St Vigeans Museum (HES).
Evidence for discovery: recorded in the mid nineteenth century, apparently in the churchyard, but by 1903 it was built into the exterior wall of the nave at the north-west angle. It was taken into St Vigeans Museum in 1960.
Present condition: broken and worn.
Description
What survives of this massive free-standing cross is the terminal of one arm and parts of an apparently infilled ring. Face F is assumed to be the underside of the arm because it has traces of carving whereas the upper face E is plain. There was a large circular boss on each of the main faces, A and C, but only that on face A remains intact. It is 210mm in diameter and 90mm high, conical in form and carved with interlocking triangles of interlace. The boss is surrounded by a band of petals and there are traces of interlace beyond, filling a panel edged by roll moulding. The ornament on face C appears to have been similar.
Date range: ninth or tenth century.
Primary references: ECMS pt 3, 269-70; Geddes 2017, no VIG009.
Desk-based information compiled by A Ritchie 2017
