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Meigle
Cross Slab (Pictish), Pictish Symbol Stone (Pictish)
Site Name Meigle
Classification Cross Slab (Pictish), Pictish Symbol Stone (Pictish)
Alternative Name(s) Meigle Museum; Meigle Stones; Meigle No. 27
Canmore ID 30857
Site Number NO24SE 25.27
NGR NO 2872 4459
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/30857
- Council Perth And Kinross
- Parish Meigle
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Perth And Kinross
- Former County Perthshire
Meigle 27, Perthshire, cross-slab fragment
Measurements: H 0.56m, W 0.48, D 0.08m
Stone type: sandstone
Place of discovery: NO 2873 4460
Present location: Meigle Museum.
Evidence for discovery: found after the church was destroyed by fire in 1869.
Present condition: broken but carving good.
Description
This is a fragment from close to the base of a cross-slab, which is carved in relief on both broad faces. Face A bears part of the shaft of a cross outlined by roll moulding and has a roll moulding along the edge of the slab. The shaft is filled with closely meshed peltas, and to the left of the shaft is a square of interlace with pointed loops and above it an interlace plait, while to the right is the remains of a panel with running spirals at the base. The panels of ornament stop well short of the (missing) base of the shaft.
Face C gives a glimpse of a very curious scene, in which there is part of a figure seated on a low chair facing left, a larger chair tipped back on which a robed figure sits, also facing left. The foot is shod in a slipper with high frontal tongue. Squatting behind the backwards tipping chair is a small figure with a moustache, hugging his knees. This has been interpreted as the story of the poor man at the feast from St James’ Epistle (Henderson & Henderson 2004, 156-7). The surviving edge has a roll moulding.
Date: ninth century.
References: Galloway 1877, 434; ECMS pt 3, 339; RCAHMS 1994, 98; Henderson & Henderson 2004, 43, 156-7.
Desk-based information complied by A Ritchie 2019.
Publication Account (1964)
NO24SE 25.27 2872 4459.
No. 27 Cross-slab: the shaft has spirals: interlace on the left. On the back, two enthroned figures and a small crouching figure with pointed beard, clasping his knees.
S Cruden 1964.
Note (1990)
NO24SE 25.27 2872 4459.
This fragment of a cross-slab measures 0.56m in height, 0.48m in breadth and 0.08m in thickness. On the front there is part of the shaft of a cross infilled with interlinked spiral ornament and flanked by decorated panels including plait, running spirals and double-beaded interlaced work. On the back there is an incomplete scene in which two seated figures, one of them tilted backwards, are accompanied by a small figure squatting behind a leaning chair.
Information from RCAHMS (JNGR) 1990.
