Rosemarkie

Rosemarkie 9, Ross & Cromarty, church furniture, panel fragment

Measurements: H 0.48m, W 0.53m, D 0.10m

Stone type: sandstone

Place of discovery: NH 7372 5763

Present location: Groam House Museum, Rosemarkie (ROMGH.1992.5)

Evidence for discovery: found in the churchyard at Rosemarkie in 1974.

Present condition: only the upper edge is intact, but the carving is in good condition.

Description

One broad face of this fragment is carved in shallow relief, with a roll moulding along the top edge. A central panel contains a stiff and asymmetrical bush scroll, with two pairs of scrolls ending in a single circular ‘leaf’ and separated by a horizontal line of four pellets. At the top of the bush there are three branches each with three circular ‘leaves’. On either side of the bush scroll are vertical borders of step pattern, with the remains of panels of diagonal key pattern beyond. Although both faces B and D are broken, the surviving maximum width of face A at 0.53m may represent almost the original width, because on face C there are traces of a rebate close to each edge, some 0.05m wide and deep.

Date: eighth or ninth century.

References: Henderson 1983, 260-2; Seright & Henderson 2013, 8.

Desk-based information compiled by A Ritchie 2017.

NH75NW 7.12 737 576

A sculptured panel bearing in low relief a stylised tree from which sprout four volutes. The tree is flanked by narrow bands and the remains of panels of key-pattern (Groam House 1992.5).

MS/1785.