Killeen
Image copyright © Edwin Rae Collection (TRIARC. TCD), 2014
Reproduced under a CCL Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 1.0 licence
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Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Edwin Rae Collection (TRIARC. TCD), 2014
Image Source: digital version of a B&W photograph 25 May 2010 by Edwin Rae [http://hdl.handle.net/2262/39708] [12 June 2014]
Copyright Instructions: Reproduced under a CCL Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 1.0 licence
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Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Joan Pike, 1989
Image Source: Pike (1989: 47)
Copyright Instructions: Permission received (letter of 9/2/2004)
Apostle or saint - St. John the Baptist - head
Scene Description: Pike states that four heads were originally carved on this font; one now removed, another damaged. Roe feels justified to identify this as the head of John the Baptist --
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Edwin Rae Collection (TRIARC. TCD), 2014
Image Source: digital version of a B&W photograph 25 May 2010 by Edwin Rae [http://hdl.handle.net/2262/39708] [12 June 2014]
Copyright Instructions: Reproduced under a CCL Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 1.0 licence
symbol - shield - 3
Scene Description: Four shields originally carved with the heads; one shield now removed
Copyright Statement: Image copyright © Roe, 1968
Image Source: Roe (1968: pl. XXX)
Copyright Instructions: PERMISSION NOT AVAILABLE -- IMAGE NOT FOR PUBLIC USE
INFORMATION
Font ID: 00550KIL
Object Type: Baptismal Font1
Font Century and Period/Style: 15th century (early?), Gothic
Workshop/Group/Artisan: heraldic font
Church / Chapel Name: Church of St. Mary, manor [chantry] church of Killeen [in ruins]
Font Location in Church: In the grounds of the ruined church
Church Patron Saint(s): St. Mary the Virgin
Church Notes: church of te 15thC abbey of St. Mary
Church Address: Killeen Castle, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
Site Location: Meath / An Mhí, Leinster, Republic of Ireland, Europe
Directions to Site: Killeen castle is near Dunsany castle, off the L2208, W of the M3, just down the N3 from Tara, 3 km from Kilmessan, about 12 km S of Navan
Ecclesiastic Region: [Diocese of Meath]
Historical Region: Barony of Skreen
Additional Comments: recycled font: Roe (1968) dates this font to the first half of the 15th century and describes it as an octagonal font having "suffered severely from exposure as well as from seemingly deliberate maltreatment [...] much of the carving has been hacked away [...] rim extensively injured." She describes the remaining ornamentation as being discernible on only four of the basin sides: three are large shields carved to overhang the bevelling of the bowl and, above each shield, "a very bodly carved head, now savagely defaced." Roe believes there are traces of markings on the shields to suggest that "heraldic charges were actually carved and not merely painted on the prepared surface of the stone." The carved head on the other panel, one with long hair and a long moustache which meets a beard divided in two locks, reminds Roe of the "caput Johannis in disco" so popular in alabasters of the period in Ireland enough to "justify its recognition as the Haed of John the Baptist." (Roe, 1968).
Font Notes:
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Described and illustrated in Roe (1968: [73]-76 and pl. XXX), who dates this font to the first half of the 15th century, an octagonal font having "suffered severely from exposure as well as from seemingly deliberate maltreatment [...] much of the carving has been hacked away [...] rim extensively injured." Roe (ibid.) describes the remaining ornamentation as being discernible on only four of the basin sides: three are large shields carved to overhang the bevelling of the bowl and, above each shield, "a very bodly carved head, now savagely defaced." Roe (ibid.) believes there are traces of markings on the shields to suggest that "heraldic charges were actually carved and not merely painted on the prepared surface of the stone." The carved head on the other panel, one with long hair and a long moustache which meets a beard divided in two locks, reminds Roe of the "caput Johannis in disco" so popular in alabasters of the period in Ireland enough to "justify its recognition as the Head of John the Baptist." Described and illustrated in Pike (1989: 47)
Credit and Acknowledgements: We are grateful to Dr. Rachel Moss, and to Trinity College, Dublin, for the copy of Ms. Pike's work, and to Ms. Joan Pike for her kind permission to reproduce her original drawings.
COORDINATES
UTM: 29U 659399 5934596
Latitude & Longitude (Decimal): 53.536053, -6.594722
Latitude & Longitude (DMS): 53° 32′ 9.79″ N, 6° 35′ 41″ W
MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS
Material: stone, limestone
Number of Pieces: three
Font Shape: octagonal, mounted
Basin Interior Shape: round
Basin Exterior Shape: octagonal
Drainage System: centre hole in basin
Rim Thickness: 7.5 cm*
Diameter (inside rim): 51 cm*
Basin Depth: 25.5 cm*
Height of Basin Side: 61 cm*
Height of Base: 35.5 cm [calculated]
Basin Upper Panel Dimensions: 61 x 25.5 cm*
Basin Lower Panel Dimensions: 5 cm* (depth of the chamfer)
Font Height (less Plinth): 96.5 cm**
Trapezoidal Basin: 63.5 cm** (width)
Notes on Measurements: * Roe (1968: 73-76); ** Pike (1989: 47)
REFERENCES
- Cogan, Anthony, The Diocese of Meath: Ancient and Modern, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin: Four Courts Press, 1992 (c1862), vol. I: 357
- Pike, Joan H.K., "Medieval Fonts of Ireland", [Supplied courtesy of The Dept. of the History of Art, Trinity College, Dublin], [Ireland]: [Privately printed], 1989, p. 47
- Roe, Helen M., Medieval Fonts of Meath, Longford, Ireland: Meath Archaeological and Historical Society, 1968, p. [73]-76 and pl. XXX