hebrides-skye-small-isles-1928/02_234

Transcription

BRACADALE] -- THE OUTER HEBRIDES, SKYE AND THE SMALL ISLES -- [BRACADALE

on either side of the Crucifixion representation,
are occupied by an effective interlaced work,
while the other two bear very worn inscriptions,
in part almost obliterated, that have not, so
far, been deciphered. A date, apparently
MCCCCXXX, is faintly discernible. The lower
portion of the bowl recedes in sloping and taper-
ing panels, between the figures, three of
these panels being ornamented by foliageous
designs, and the fourth by a conventional rose.
Beaneath the figures there are four slight rolled
projections with the ends returning on each
sloping panel near its centre. The dimensions
are:-
Diameter of bowl -- 1 foot 6 1/2 inches
Height of bowl -- 13 inches
Diameter internally -- 12 3/4 inches
Depth -- 7 1/2 inches

CROSS SHAFT. - Near the centre of the kirk-
yard is the fragment of a cross shaft broken
at both ends measuring 4 feet 9 inches in
length and tapering from a width of 11 1/2 inches
and a thickness of 3 1/2 inches at the base to a
width of 8 1/2 inches and a thickness of 2 3/4 inches
at the top. On the front of the shaft, in a panel
bordered by two broad mouldings with a narrow
beading between, is the figure of an abbott
14 1/2 inches in length carved in high relief.
He is clad in alb, chasuble, stole and amice,
and has a rather high mitre on his head, from
the right side of which depends an infula.
His right hand has two fingers raised in the
act of benediction and his left hand grasps a
crozier, the crook of which runs into the mould-
ing on the edge of the panel. He is placed
under a plain canopy with pointed arch. Above
is the figure of Christ on the Cross, the break
in the stone being just below the waist; the
legs are bare with one foot superimposed on
the other; the shaft of the cross to which he is
nailed has ragged edges. On the dexter side
of the panel alongside the moulding is the
inner half of what appears to be a palm branch,
being a design with deeply serrated edges.
On the back of the shaft is a panel bordered
by a single flat moulding and bearing a foliage-
ous and zoomorphic design. On either side of a
central wavy stem springs a conventional
foliageous pattern, the lower portion taking
the form of five spiked holly leaves and the
higher of rosettes of five and six petals. The
top of the stem terminates in a bunch of foliage.
The animal at the base shows the head elevated
and mouth open; the feet are provided with
sharp claws and three of them remain on the
ground, while the fourth, one of the fore feet, is
raised in the air. The tail curves forward
between the legs and upwards across the body
and is continued as the stem of the foliageous
design. (Figs. 266, 267.)

CARVED SLABS. - There are four grave slabs
of dark blue mica schist in the burying ground
with a claymore, or one and a half-handed
sword, and foliageous designs carved on their
upper surface. Near the west end of the church-
yard is the best preserved slab, which measures
5 feet 8 inches in length, 20 inches in width
at the top and 16 1/2 inches at the base, and
3 inches in thickness (Fig. 245). It is bordered
with a flat moulding and a bead inside and is
divided into two divisions. The upper panel
bears a cross of eight rays with a foliageous
design between them and also in the four
corners. Beneath is a claymore with straight
quillons terminating in a quatrefoil with three
slight projections placed crosswise; the pommel
is circular with a blunt spike on the top. Be-
neath the quillon on the dexter side is an animal
with one of the forepaws raised, and the tail
brought forward between the legs and recurved
over the haunch is the commencement of an
interlaced foliageous design carried to the foot
of the slab. On the sinister side is a somewhat
similar design, only the animal has a round,
human-like face with protruding ears. On
either side of the hilt the ornamentation has
been obliterated. The second slab lies beside
the last and bears a claymore with quillons set
at right angles to the hilt and a foliageous
design on either side. Above is a rayed cross.
The stone is much worn and slightly broken.
The third slab, which also lies at the west
end of the enclosure, is even more defaced,
but a claymore is distinguishable.
The last slab lies near the centre of the
kirkyard. It is 6 feet 4 inches long, and has
been over 22 inches wide at the top and 18 inches
at the bottom. There is a rayed and floriated
cross in the top panel and below a claymore
with depressed quillons flanked on either side
by a foliageous design. The ornamentation
is almost obliterated.
Lying near the cross shaft is a discoid stone
of dark blue mica schist, measuring from 20 to

[Page] 139

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