St Vigeans
Cross Slab (Pictish), Pictish Symbol Stone (Pictish)
Site Name St Vigeans
Classification Cross Slab (Pictish), Pictish Symbol Stone (Pictish)
Canmore ID 35584
Site Number NO64SW 3.04
NGR NO 6383 4294
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/35584
- Council Angus
- Parish Arbroath And St Vigeans
- Former Region Tayside
- Former District Angus
- Former County Angus
St Vigeans 4 (St Vigianus), Angus, Pictish cross-slab fragment
Measurements: H 0.20m, W 0.28m, D 0.06m
Stone type: grey sandstone
Place of discovery: NO c 6384 4289
Present location: in St Vigeans Museum (HES).
Evidence for discovery: found during the 1872 restoration works and built into a wall of the church. It had been removed and placed in the porch by 1903, and it was taken into St Vigeans Museum in 1960.
Present condition: two intact edges and two broken edges; carving in good condition.
Description
This small fragment represents the top left corner of a cross-slab, carved in relief on both broad faces. Both the slab and the ringed cross that it bears are outlined by plain flat-band borders. Part of the top arm of the cross survives, and it contains diagonal key pattern, while the ring segment is filled with another key pattern with pellet extensions. Between the ring and the corner of the slab is a triquetra knot executed in median-incised cord.
Face C is carved with a simple double disc set on end in the corner, with a crook to its left and a hooded figure in profile to the left again.
Although they are not conjoining and the key patterns are not identical, it is possible that this fragment and St Vigeans 21 are parts of the same cross-slab.
Date range: eighth or ninth century.
Primary references: ECMS pt 3, 240-1; Fraser 2008, no 67.4; Geddes 2017, no VIG004.
Desk-based information compiled by A Ritchie 2017
NO64SW 3.04 6383 4294.
No.4. Fragment of top of an upright cross-slab. On one side is part of the cross. On the other side, a monk or priest. Behind him his pastoral staff or crosier and the double-disc symbol. Removed from St Vigeans Church to museum, 1960 (NO 63834294).
S Cruden 1964
Reference (1997)
Six class II symbol stones.
St Vigeans 1 (The Drosten Stone) : on cross face decoration including an angel with animals and birds and inscription in Hiberno-Saxon script.On the reverse a complex hunting scene with underneath a double-disc and Z-rod over a crescent and mirror-and-comb.
St Vigeans 2 : cross shaft with a mirror on the left and serpent and Z-rod over an eagle on the right.
St Vigeans 3 : fragment with double-disc and Z-rod.
St Vigeans 4 : on the reverse is a standing figure with vertical double-disc on the right.
St Vigeans 5 : fragment with double-disc and Z-rod on the cross face.
St Vigeans 6 : double-disc and Z-rod on one face.
A Mack 1997
