Sculpture
Catalogue
TR1: Lower part of a cross-slab including the tenon. Face 1: Border of vine-scroll ornament similar to that on Hilton of Cadboll, containing part of an unidentified figurative scene.
Face 2, side: Crescent and V-rod; a serpent and Z-rod; an animal. Face 3, side: interlace. 3'8" x 2'1" x 6". Originally part of a monument c. 3m high. Found before 1856.
[IB190; ECMS, III, 73-75, no.1; Stuart 1856, plate xxx].
TR2: Fragment with spirals in relief and hooked peltae. 10" x 6.75" x 1" thick.
Dug up at a point about four yards from the east gable during the mid 19th century.
[IB130; ECMS, III, 91-93, no.7; Miller 1889].
TR3: Central boss of a cross-slab, with wreath ornamented in key pattern. 14.5" x 13.5" x 2".
Dug up near the eastern side of the north aisle at a depth of six or seven feet in the late 19th century.
[IB131; ECMS, III, 91, no.6; Miller 1889].
TR4: Three pieces from an upright cross-slab, with central interlace, shaft and panels ornamented with serpents.
Found in Tarbat churchyard before 1776.
[IB280-281; ECMS, III, 88, nos. 2,2a,2b; Cordiner 1780].
TR5: Another piece belonging to the TR4 cross-slab. Found before 1856.
[ECMS, III, 90, no.2c]
TR6: Fragment of upright cross-slab, bearing raised fillets and interlace. 12" x 9" x 2" thick.
Found in Tarbat churchyard before 1903.
[IB282; ECMS, III, 91, no.4].
TR7: Cental boss from a cross-slab comprising seven small bosses in a wreath of interlace. 1'1" in diameter x 2.5" thick.
Found in Tarbat churchyard in the late 19th century.
[IB283; ECMS, III, 91, no.5; Cordiner 1780].
TR8: Triangular fragment of an upright cross-slab, bearing key pattern in relief. 10.5" x 5" x 2.5" thick.
Found in Tarbat churchyard.
[IB284; ECMS, III, 93, no.8; Miller 1889].
TR9: Triangular fragment of an upright cross-slab.
Face 1: middle of a panel of spiral work with small triangular dots.
Face 2: portion next to the edge of a panel of interlaced work. 9" x 7" x 8" thick.
Found in Tarbat churchyard.
[IB285; ECMS, III, 93, no.9].
TR10: Fragment of relief sculpture with a cock and a fox carved in shallow relief. May be part of TR1. 7" x 8" x 2" thick.
No provenience.
[IB209].
TR11: Fragment, Face1: panel of key pattern;
Face 2: three crosses. 14" x 17" x 3" thick.
[IB250].
TR12: Fragment of relief sculpture, with interlace. 6" x 3.5" x 22 thick. Perhaps belongs to TR4.
Found in churchyard and on window-sill of west tower before 1903. Not in NMS and presumed lost.
[ECMS, III, 90, no.3].
TR13: Inscribed stone.
Face 1: The apex of a square panel containing spiral ornament in relief. Matches TR20.
Face 2: On a narrow side, an inscription in relief insular majiscules. 19" x 12" x 6.5" thick.
Transliteration: IN NOMINE...IHU XRI...CRUX XRI...IN...COMMEMORATIONE...REO...LII...DIE HAC...
Translation: IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, THE (a?) CROSS OF CHRIST IN MEMORY OF REO...LIUS
Found by Rev. J.M. Joass of Golspie built into the wall of the manse garden at Tarbat before 1903.
[IB286; ECMS, III, 82,94, no.10; Higgitt 1982].
TR14: Fragment with interlace. This remains incorporated into the relieving arch which supports the 17th century belfry of Tarbat Old Church.
TR15: Small boss, richly fretted. Seen before 1889 and now lost. [Miller 1889]. (No image available.)
TR16: Fragment of cross-slab with cross formed by four circles. Now lost.
[Ritchie 1914-15, 304-306, fig.1].
TR17: Three conjoining fragments with interlace. 215 x 190 x 25mm thick.
Found during clearance of the crypt in 1991 by Jill Harden.
TR18: Fragment with spiral decoration. 82 x 111 x 72mm thick. F
ound during clearance of the crypt in 1991 by Jill Harden.
TR19: Roughly shaped rectangular stone bearing a simple cross in relief. 340 x 126 x 80mm.
Found by David Henry and removed from graveyard wall in 1994.
TR20: The Monk Stone; fragment from a large cross-slab.
Face 1: panel of spirals and dragon.
Face 2: two lions disputing the a deer carcass. 710 x 410 x 178mm.
Located in 1995 by Niall Robertson built into the crypt vault and extracted in 1997.
[INT19/2/1040/72].
TR21: Small cross-slab bearing a hollow-armed cross one side and a chisel-ended cross the other. 510 x 195 x 45mm.
Located during excavations in 1996, built into foundations of earlier church. Extracted 1997.
[INT17/2/1016/9].
TR22: The "Boar Stone". Sarcophagus lid.
Face 1 (side, horizontal): lion and boar in relief panels.
Face 2 (end): cross in relief. 1065 x 460 x 230mm.
Located in excavations in 1996, built into foundations of earlier church. Extracted 1997.
[INT17/2/1016/10].
TR23: Tiny fragment with spiral in relief. 55 x 30mm.
Found in Glebe Field excavations in 1996.
[INT14/1002/272].
TR24: Unshaped stone with crude cross scratched upon it. 470 x 245 x 130mm.
Found in service trench on the north side of the church in 1996.
[INT16/1001/1].
TR25: Unshaped stone with crude cross incised on it. 231 x 195 x 47mm.
Found in service trench on north side of church in 1996.
[INT16/1008/3].
TR26: Coss shaft re-used as lintel in north light of crypt. In situ. (INT19/19/1044). (No image available.)
TR27: A stone post with side grooves, possibly a “shrine post” (cf Iona) or part of a cancellum.
Removed by Niall Robertson from the graveyard, where it was apparently in [re-]use as a grave marker.
Top 140x150mm, base 180x230mm, height 680mm.
TR28: Trial piece or partially worked slab with rendering of bull, cow (or two cows) one licking a calf, in low relief; also part of a horseman/woman. Maybe unfinished. 720 x 480 x 100mm.
Found in post-medieval context in the Glebe Field excavations in 1997.
[INT24/1370/131].
TR29: Piece with part of stepped cross in low relief. 325 x 720mm.
Found during excavations in the church in the western wall of the crypt, 1997.
[INT17/97/1295/361].
TR30: Part of cross-slab with incised hollow-angled cross. At least 560 x 620 x 50mm.
Found in 1997 built into foundations of south wall of early church.
[INT17/63/1180/465].
TR31: Visible part of a cross-slab with incised hollow-armed cross. At least 190 x 180 x 70mm.
Found in 1997 built into foundations of south wall of early church.
[INT17/63/1180/466].
TR32: Fragment. Face 1: part of panel with spiral motif within a border, similar to TR18.
Face 2 (side): corner of key pattern. 146 x 70 x 52mm.
Found in rubble infill beneath supporting arch of belfry in 1998.
[INT23/1121/44].
TR33: Cross-slab with cross in low relief which has parallels at Iona. 524 x 212 x 56mm.
Found in foundations of south wall of early church during restoration in 1998.
[INT17/63/1180/467].
TR34: Fragment of cross slab with hollow-armed cross in low relief. The reverse shows signs of re-use. c.350 x 350 x 75mm.
Found beneath the external stair to the north aisle during restoration in 1998.
[INT23/45].
TR 35: Fragment of sculpture conjoining with TR28, with rendering of a lion, the forelegs of which join the feet on TR28. Above this a cloven-footed ‘manticora’ is depicted, possibly attacking a lamb. The top of the fragment displays a finished edge marked by four incised lines. 380 x 330 x 80mm.
Found in 1998 during excavations in the Glebe Field, re-used as the lining of a medieval drain.
[INT24/166/1453/1798].
TR 36: Small fragment of triskele carved in relief. 86 x 50 x 31mm.
Found in 1998 during excavations in the Glebe Field.
[INT14/1506/2119].
TR 37: Small fragment of double strand interlace. 89 x 45 x 20mm.
[INT14/1510/2122].
TR 38: Fragment of double strand interlace probably from the same piece of carving as TR37. Comprises two conjoining pieces. 114 x 88 x 35mm.
[INT14/1510/2120].
Last updated 10 October, 2003.
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