Field Visit
Date June 1984
Event ID 1082796
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1082796
The head and the greater part of the shaft of a medieval disc-headed cross, together with an inscribed socket-stone, were removed in the 19th century from the burial-ground at Kirkapoll, Tiree (en.1), and erected in the garden SE of Inveraray Castle (No. 184). Including a reconstructed portion at the foot of the shaft, the cross now stands to a height of 2.2m, the original fragments measuring about 1.64m in combined length. The span of the arms is 0.47m, the diameter of the disc 0.36m, and the width of the shaft at the junction with the head is 0.19m.
The front of the disc is occupied by a Crucifixion scene with attendant figures, bordered by a single row of trefoil leaves with short curved stalks; the side-arms bear blank panels within roll-mouldings, but in the upper arm is a figure of St Michael slaying the dragon. On the back of the disc a vigorous representation of a stag attacked by hounds is framed by a similar border. The side-arms bear simple decorative motifs, while in the upper arm there is the worn figure of an abbot or bishop carrying a crozier and with his right arm raised in benediction (en.2). The ornament of the shaft resembles that of Mac Lean's Cross, Iona (en.3), in consisting of a tightly woven mesh of asymmetrical interlace incorporating small variegated leaves, and on the back terminating at the top and foot respectively in a pair of confronted beasts, and a mounted warrior. The socket-stone measures 0.84m square by 0.15m in height and incorporates a socket measuring about 0.45m by 0.15m. Its top is covered with foliaceous ornament in the style of the Iona school, and bears the following inscription in Lombardic characters:
+HEC EST CRUX FINGONII ABBATI/S ET SUORUM
FILIORUM FINGONII E/T EAGE
'This is the cross of Abbot Finguine and of his sons Finguine and ?Aed'.
Finguine MacKinnon was abbot of Iona from about 1357 to about 1408 and the socket-stone, which is the most elaborate and best preserved of its type in the West Highlands, can be attributed to that period. Its original association with the cross must remain uncertain, however, since the socket is considerably too large for the shaft, the difference being concealed by an expansion in the modern section at the base. While the ornament of the cross is characteristic of the Iona school, its close similarity to MacLean's Cross and to the Duncan MacMillan cross at Kilmory Knap (No. 76, 37) suggests a possible date in the second half of the 15th century. (SSS, 2, pls. 52,66; PSAS, 61 (1926-7), 153, fig.12,2; STEER AND BANNERMAN, Monumental Sculpture, inscription no.6, p.36, and p1.16c; Inventory of Argyll, 3, No.310,3).
RCAHMS 1992, visited in June 1984
