Glamis

Glamis 4 (St Fergus), Angus, Pictish cross-slab fragment

Measurements: H 0.59m, W 0.55m, D 0.13m

Stone type: grey sandstone

Place of discovery: NO 387469

Present location: Meffan Institute, Forfar (no 6).

Evidence for discovery: found at Glamis Church in 1967 and displayed in the church porch.

Present condition: broken and trimmed for re-use, some of the relief carving trimmed away.

Description

Carved in relief on both broad faces, this is the lower part of a cross-slab. Face A bears the basal part of a cross-shaft framed by a roll moulding and containing a ring of interlace, the interlace forming a cross. On the left of the shaft is a pair of human legs striding towards the cross, while to the right are traces of two quadrupeds. Face C bears the front legs of two confronted quadrupeds.

Date range

Primary references: Coutts 1971.

Compiled by A Ritchie 2016

NO34NE 24 387 469.

The lower part of a cross-slab was found at Glamis in 1967. At one time it must have been built into a wall as it has been roughly squared and its back face bears traces of mortar. The fragment measures 59cm high, 55cm across, and is 13cm thick. On the front, the foot of the cross-shaft is ornamented with interlace decoration. In a panel to the right of the shaft are the hindquarters of a beast (possibly a fox or a wolf), and part of a wing. To the left is the lower half of the figure of a man. The only sculpture to be seen on the other face are two pairs of legs in the top left-hand corner. It is not clear whether these represent the legs of two human figures standing close together or an animal. It is now on display inside Glamis Church (NO 3863 4686).

J D Boyd 1967; H Coutts 1970; 1971; RCAHMS 1983.