Akirkeby / Aakirkeby / Åkirkeby

PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE -- IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

Results: 58 records

Click to view images and/or subjects

B01: New Testament - Childhood and youth of Christ - Annunciation

Scene Description: Gabriel stands on the left and holding a palm branch in his right hand. He is depicted in profile striding toward the Virgin on the right. He is haloed with radiants. To the right is Mary, standing in a frontal pose, haloed, and a ray of light with a dove points toward her head. She is wearing vestments; a stole is evident under the chasuble. Her hands are damaged but were carved in the same pose employed in the same scene on the Grötlingbo font. Her palms are raised and exposed with thumbs joined.

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

B02: New Testament - Childhood and youth of Christ - Visitation - embracing

Scene Description: Mary and Elizabeth are embracing. Both are haloed and wear headdresses and mantles. A ray of light descends on the figure to the left, which must be the Virgin.

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

B03: New Testament - Childhood and youth of Christ - Nativity - censer angel

Scene Description: The Nativity scene is carved under one trefoil arch. In the lower left, the Virgin reclines in a bed. The bed is richly appointed and resting on four rounded arches; it has a headboard with posts made of the "grape motif" found on the underside of the basin. The bed cover is richly adorned. Mary's right arm is stretched along the bed (has a broad-sleeved gown and head-covering) and her right hand is extended and touches the fingers of Joseph's left hand. Joseph sits (incorporated into the bed) and rests his head on his right hand. Above to the left, over Mary's head, an angel swings a censer. Above the bed is the manger which has a footboard with animal heads and richly covered with "crossed cloths". On it lies the Child, who is swaddled, haloed and full-frontal face to viewer. To the right is an 8-pointed star and above the manger, two heads of ox and mule. The manger is shaped like a Viking ship.

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

B03: New Testament - Childhood and youth of Christ - Nativity - censer angel - detail

Scene Description: the hands touch...

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

B03: New Testament - childhood and youth of Christ - Nativity - Mary and Joseph holding hands

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

B04: New Testament - Childhood and youth of Christ - three Wise Men - adoration of the kings

Scene Description: The Adoration of the Magi is represented in two arches. In the first arch, two Magi, profiled, holding gifts in right hands (left hand wrapped around their bodies), crowned, walk toward the Madonna and Child. In the second arch, a third Magus, holding a gift, walks toward the right, the Madonna and Child. The Virgin is haloed, stands full-frontal, wears a head-covering, and holds the Child on her lap with both hands. The Child is haloed, sits full-frontal, turned to the left, and while his right hand is raised in benediction the left hand rests on his left knee. There is an 8-pointed star to the left of Mary's head.

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

B04: New Testament - Childhood and youth of Christ - three Wise Men - adoration of the kings - detail

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

B05: New Testament - Childhood and youth of Christ - three Wise Men - journey of the Wise men - departing on horseback

Scene Description: The Magi's departure is represented in three arches. Each arch contains a crowned Magus on horseback, all face toward the right, all alike, holding branches and wearing long capes with high back collars

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

B05: New Testament - Childhood and youth of Christ - three Wise Men - journey of the Wise men - departing on horseback - detail

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

B05: New Testament - Childhood and youth of Christ - three Wise Men - journey of the Wise men - departing on horseback - detail

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

B05: New Testament - Childhood and youth of Christ - three Wise Men - journey of the Wise men - departing on horseback - detail

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

B06: New Testament - Passion of Christ - flagellation

Scene Description: The Flagellation scene is carved under one arch. Christ, naked to the waist, dressed in a loincloth, stands in the centre and is tied to a post. He faces frontward but his body is in profile. To the left and right are soldiers with whips (wearing Roman armour).

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

B07: New Testament - Passion of Christ - Via Crucis - Christ led to Golgotha

Scene Description: Christ is shown in the centre of the composition, in profile, stooped over and with his head haloed (cross in halo). His head is turned looking back. A soldier leads the procession. Behind Christ there is another soldier, in profile, holding Christ by his tied hands.

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

B08: New Testament - Passion of Christ - Crucifixion

Scene Description: The Crucifixion scene depicts the moment before Christ is placed on the cross. In the centre is the cross, a two-barred cross, the lower bar much shorter and probably intended to suport the feet. In the foreground, Christ with a cross-nimbus stands in profile wearing the same long robe as in the previous scene. His hand is raised in front of him - extended but not giving a benediction sign. He is being held from the back by a figure standing right behind him. To the right and facing Christ a figure holds a hammer in the right hand and nail in the left toward Christ.

LBH01: human figure - head - vegetation stemming from the mouth

Scene Description: seen here on the right side

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

LBH02: animal - mammal - ram - head

Scene Description: seen here on the left

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

LBH03: animal - mammal - bear - head - with prey

Scene Description: seen here on the right -- the prey appears to be a serpent

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

LBH04: animal - mammal - feline - head

Scene Description: seen here on the left

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

New Testament - Childhood and youth of Christ - three Wise Men - adoration of the kings - two magi

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

New Testament - Childhood and youth of Christ - three Wise Men - journey of the Wise men - departing on horseback

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

New Testament - Childhood and youth of Christ - three Wise Men - journey of the Wise men - departing on horseback

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

animal - reptile - snake - 2 - intertwined - heads facing

Scene Description: the heads rise facing each other from the complex interlace of the bodies; the bodies are caught in the jaws of the two animal heads here

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

animal - reptile - snake - foliated tail

Scene Description: the body of the snake caught in the jaws of the animal on the left develops a three-prong tail of acanthus

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

design element - architectural - arcade - trefoiled arches - columns with capitals and bases - patterned columns

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

design element - motifs - moulding

Scene Description: a nicely patterned moulding is interrupted by the paws of the animal on the right; one of the palmettes from the vine on the sides manages to slide from behind and under the moulding on the left

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

design element - motifs - vine - acanthus

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

design element - motifs - vine - acanthus

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

design element - motifs - vine - acanthus - with arum bunches

Scene Description: the very playful vine is being bitten by the human on the right; curiously his hair becomes part of the vine on the left side of his head

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

design element - motifs - vine - acanthus - with arum bunches

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

design element - patterns - interlace - 4-strand

Scene Description: all around the broad moulding at the top of the base

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

inscription - detail

Scene Description: partial view of one of the Runic inscriptions on the arcade, all around the basin [cf. Inscription field for the full text of the inscriptions

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

motifs and symbols - varied

Scene Description: triquetra, interlace, etc., in the spandrels of the arcade

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

view of base

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken in September 1987 by BSI

view of base

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken in September 1987 by BSI

view of base

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken in September 1987 by BSI

view of base

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 February 1993 by BSI

view of basin - interior

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken in September 1987 by BSI

view of basin - underbowl - detail - grape vine

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken in September 1987 by BSI

view of basin - underbowl - detail - grape vine

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken in September 1987 by BSI

view of church exterior

Scene Description: two views of the church exterior in 1874

Image Source: B&W illustration in Dam & Larsen (1951)

Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE -- IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

view of church exterior - detail

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken in September 1987 by BSI

view of church exterior - east view

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken in September 1987 by BSI

view of church exterior - northeast end

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken in September 1987 by BSI

view of church exterior - south porch

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken in September 1987 by BSI

view of church exterior - south porch

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken in September 1987 by BSI

view of church exterior - southeast view - detail

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken in September 1987 by BSI

view of church exterior - southwest view

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 February 1993 by BSI

view of church exterior - tower - northeast end

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken in September 1987 by BSI

view of church exterior - west façade - detail

Scene Description: carved head above the west portal

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken in September 1987 by BSI

view of church exterior - west portal

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken in September 1987 by BSI

view of church interior - nave - looking east

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken in September 1987 by BSI

view of church interior - nave - looking east

Scene Description: the font on the north side (left-hand side)

Image Source: B&W illustration in Dam & Larsen (1951)

Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE -- IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

view of font

Scene Description: Source caption: "Tegningen sidder i: Dr. I. G. Burman Beckers antiqvarisk-topografiske Samling, Kirker på Bornholm, Møn og Samsø"

Image Source: digital image of a 1820-1880 drawing in Becker, I. G. Burman (26.4.1802-6.10.1880) apoteker, historisk samler, Det Kgl. Biblioteks billedsamling [http://www5.kb.dk/images/billed/2010/okt/billeder/object566259/en/] [accessed 17 July 2022]

Copyright Instructions: PD "Materialet er fri af ophavsret"

view of font

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

view of font

Image Source: digital image of a photograph taken 17 July 1997 by BSI

view of font and program

Image Source: B&W illustration in Dam & Larsen (1951)

Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE -- IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE

view of iconographic program

Scene Description: Source caption: "Tegningen sidder i: Dr. I. G. Burman Beckers antiqvarisk-topografiske Samling, Kirker på Bornholm, Møn og Samsø"

Copyright Instructions: PD "Materialet er fri af ophavsret"

view of iconographic program

Scene Description: Source caption: "Tegningen sidder i: Dr. I. G. Burman Beckers antiqvarisk-topografiske Samling, Kirker på Bornholm, Møn og Samsø"

Copyright Instructions: PD "Materialet er fri af ophavsret"

INFORMATION

FontID: 00069AAK

Church/Chapel: Åkirkeby kirke / Aa kirke / St. Hans / Sankt Hans kirke

Church Patron Saints: St. John the Baptist

Church Location: Storegade 2, 3720 Aakirkeby, Denmark -- Tel.: +45 56 97 41 03

Country Name: Denmark

Location: Bornholm, Hovedstaden

Directions to Site: Located off highway 38, 10-12 km E of Rønne

Ecclesiastic Region: Københavns Stift

Font Location in Church: Inside the church, in the chancel N side just W of the apse

Date: ca. 1200-1225?

Century and Period: 12th - 13th century, Romanesque

Workshop/Group/Artisan: Sighraf / Sighrafr / Sigraf

Font Notes: Click to view font notes

A set of drawings of the font and decorative programme on the font made between 1820 and 1880 appears in Becker, I. G. Burman (26.4.1802-6.10.1880) apoteker, historisk samler; now in the Det Kgl. Biblioteks billedsamling [http://www5.kb.dk/images/billed/2010/okt/billeder/object566228/en/] and [http://www5.kb.dk/images/billed/2010/okt/billeder/object566240/en/] [accessed 17 July 2022]. Hermannsson (1918) lists an 1888-1890 review of an article about the font at Aakirkeby by Wimmer in 1887. Noted in Tynell (1913). In Roosval (1918) and (1918), In Rydbeck (1936). In Tuulse (1968). Romanesque chalice-shaped font in Gotland stone with one of the most magnificent ornamentated programs [NB: recent research by Lars Berggren and Annette Landen, of Lund University, has identified the stone of the basin is a fine-grained limestone, not sandstone as is usually described, although the base itself is made of sandstone [cf. Berggren (2002)]. Noted and fully illustrated in the SHM Medeltidens bildvärld [ref.: 920928F1] as a baptismal font made of sandstone in the last quarter of the 12th century by Sigraf [NB: this is the only Danish font listed in the SHM]. The basin sides contain a total of eleven trelobed arches with the following scenes: 1)Annunciation to Mary; 2)Visitation; 3)Nativity; 4-8)Adoration of the Magi; 9)Flagellation of Christ; 10)Christ being led to Golgotha; 11)Crucifixion. The arches themselves are inscribed with a description of the scenes in Runic characters, and they rest on well carved capitals, each with a different motif. The underbowl has beautiful acanthus foliage ornamentation and the centre ring is made of a complex braid motif. The base has four heads, at 90-degree angles, one human and the other three animal; there is an Arabesque of vines and tendrils which twists and turns all around the base, with a rope motif near the bottom edge. It has one of the longest Runic inscriptions known to ornament a baptismal font. Jansson (1987) writes of this font: "By far the finest of all rune fonts is the one at Åkirkeby, carved by the Gotlander, Sigraf"; he adds in reference to the inscription: "Linguistically and runologically the inscription is of surpassing interest. The Gotlandic fully dotted runic alphabet is used, a script skilfully adapted to match the phonetics of Gotland speech" (ibid.). Grooves on opposite sides of the bowl indicate that a lid was probably once used. The transliteration , transcription and translation below are taken from the Wikipedia entry [https://da.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aa_Kirkes_døbefont] [accessed 12 January 2023]: Transliteration: "þita : iR : saNti gabrel : ok : sehþi : saNta mari(a) : at han sku|Ldi : child : (f)yþa : þita : iR : elicabeþ : ok : maria : ok : hailsas | : hiar : huilis : maria sum | : han : barn : fydi : skapera : himic : ok : iorþaR : sum os : le|ysti | þita : iRu : þáiR : thriR : kunuGaR : (s)um : (f)y(r)sti : giarþu : ofr : u|arum : drotNi : hiar : tok : (h)aN (uiþ)r : (kunuG) a : o(f)ri : uar drotiN | hiar : riþu : tháiR : off : thriR : kunuGaR : | since they : ofra(t) : ---a : (o)rum : drotNi | þaiR : þet : hi(a)- : forward : s--(u) : (io)þaR : toku | uarn : drotin : ok --Nd- : --N : uiþ- -re : ok : (g)etu | siþan : ladu : (þa)iR : haN : burt : þiaþa(n) : buNdiN | ok : (n)ehldu : hiar : ioþaR : iesus : a krus : si : fram : a þita | sihraf(R) : (m)e--e-(i) :" Transcription: "Saint Gabrel and Santa Maria told him that he had a child. Yours is Elizabeth and Maria and hailsas. Here, Mary, who was his child, created the heavens and the earth, who redeemed us. These are the three acquaintances, who were the first to sacrifice warum dorni. Here he sacrificed his friends, the lord. Here they drove away three acquaintances, then they [had] our lord. {þaiR} þet hiar får ... ioþaR toku war lordtin and [bu]nd[u] [ha]n wiþ[rt]re og gettu. Then they led him away bound, and nailed Jesus to the cross. Say yours. SigrafR me[st]e[r]i. " Translation: "This is Saint Gabriel who told Saint Mary to give birth to a child. This is Elisabeth and Maria greeting each other. Here Mary rests just as she gave birth to the child, creator of heaven and earth, who redeemed us. These are the three kings who first sacrificed to our Lord. Here he, our Lord, accepted the sacrifice of kings. Here they rode away, the three kings, after they had sacrificed to our Lord. {þaiR} this forth ... the Jews took our Lord and bound(?) him to the tree and put him under guard. Then they led him away bound. And here the Jews nailed Jesus to the cross. Look at this for yourselves! Master Sighref."

COORDINATES

Church Latitude & Longitude Decimal: 55.070556, 14.919167

Church Latitude & Longitude DMS: 55° 4′ 14″ N, 14° 55′ 9″ E

UTM: 33U 494838 6102646

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone, limestone (Gotland) for the basin -- sandstone for the base

Number of Pieces: two

Font Shape: chalice-shaped

Basin Interior Shape: round

Basin Exterior Shape: round

Rim Thickness: 7.5-8.5 cm*

Diameter (inside rim): 64 cm*

Diameter (includes rim): 79.5-80.5 cm* / 79 cm**

Height of Basin Side: 34-35 cm*

Basin Total Height: 49.5 cm*

Height of Base: 35 cm*

Font Height (less Plinth): 84.5 cm* / 84 cm**

Notes on Measurements: * BSI on-site / ** SHM Medeltidens bildvärld [ref.: 920928F1]

INSCRIPTION

Inscription Language: runes

Inscription Notes: English translation by H. Sonne (the Runic text with another English translation is available in Jansson (1987: 168)). The latter has a full transcription of the Runic [cf. FontNotes for the transcribed text]

Inscription Location: The inscription is written in Runes on the arches and down the columns on the arcade which encircles the sides of the upper basin. See bibliography for more information.

Inscription Text: [NB: cf. FontNotes for transcription of the full Runic text] I ARCH (Annunciation): This is Saint Gabriel who said to Saint Mary that she will have a child. II ARCH (Visitation): This is Elisabeth and Mary (who are) greeting each other. III ARCH (Nativity): Here rests Mary where she gave birth to the child, creator of heaven and earth who redeems/delivers us. IV ARCH (Adoration of Magi): These are the three kings who brought Christ, Our Master, gifts. V ARCH (One Magi & Madonna): Here our Master took the kings' gifts. VI ARCH (Departure of Magi): Here the three kings ride away. VII ARCH: After they had sacrificed our Master God (last part on capital). VIII ARCH: These events are recounted: Jews took our Master and lashed him at the stake and guarded him. IX ARCH (Flagellation): [previous sentence continues over this scene]. X ARCH (Christ led to Cross): Afterwards they led him away on foot. XI ARCH (Crucifixion): And here the Jews nailed Jesus on the cross. Look straight at this - Master Sighraf made this.

Inscription Source: Wimmer (1887, [?]). Jansson (1987: 168)

REFERENCES

Berggren, Lars, "The Export of Limestone and Limestone Fonts from Gotland during the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Centuries", 2002

Dam, G.L., Aakirkeby, 1346-1946, [Aakirkeby?]: I Kommission hos Aakirkeby Boghandel, 1951

Drake, Colin Stuart, The Romanesque Fonts of Northern Europe and Scandinavia, Woodbridge, Suffolk: Boydell Press, 2002

Heales, Alfred, The Ecclesiology of Gotland, Other than Wisby ; and the Churches of Bornholm, London: Printed in Roworth & Co., Newton Street, High Holborn, 1889

Jansson, Sven B. F., Runes in Sweden, Gidlunds, Sweden: Royal Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities, Central Board of National Antiquiries, 1987

Ljungman, Ulrika, "Där ord blev sten: Delstudie av romanska dopfuntars ikongrafi", 1993, ICO – Iconographisk Post. Nordisk tidskrift för bildtolkning – Nordic Review of Iconography, 1993, pp. 1-20, 19 ill.; r["References"]

Løken, Henriette Christie, "Nytestamentlige billedsykluser tolket på bakgrunn av dåpsritualets utvikling", 1995-1996, 1998, pp. 95-100; r["References"]

Mackeprang, Mouritz, Danmarks middelalderlige døbefonte, 1941

Nordström, Folke, Mediaeval Baptismal Fonts: An Iconographical Study, Stockholm: Universitetet i Umeå, 1984

Pressouyre, Léon, "Sculpture du XIIe siècle à Saint-Hilaire-au-Temple (Marne)", CXXIII, 1965, Bulletin Monumental, 1965, pp. p. 131-134, figs. p. 133; r["References"]

Roosval, Johnny, Die Steinmeister Gottlands: Eine Geschichte der führenden Taufsteinwerkstätte des schwedischen Mittlealters, ihre Voraussetzungen und Begleit-Erscheinungen, Stockholm: A.-B. C.E. Fritzes K. Hofbokhandel, 1918

Rydbeck, Monica, Skånes stenmästare före 1200, 1936

Stenström, Tore, "Problem rörande Gotlands medeltida dopfuntar", Umeå, 1975

Torrens Alzu, Miguel A., "La pila bautismal de Åkirkeby", 2 (Junio 2006), Románico: revista de arte de Amigos del Románico, 2006, pp. 20-23; r["References"]

Tuulse, Armin, Romansk konst i Norden, Stockholm: Albert Bonniers Forlag, 1968

Tynell, Lars, Skånes medeltida Dopfuntar, Stockholm: Cederquists Grafiska Aktiebolag, 1913-1921

Wimmer, Ludvig, Dobefonten i Aakirkeby Kirke, Copenhagen: [s.n.], 1887