Alva No. 1

Results: 9 records

Click to view images and/or subjects

LB01: human figure - seated

Scene Description: seen here on the right side of the image

Image Source: digital photograph taken 24 May 2018 by BSI

LB02: human figure - male - standing - arms akimbo

Scene Description: seen here on the left side of the image; there appears to be a column to the right of the figure

Image Source: digital photograph taken 24 May 2018 by BSI

LB03: human figure - male - fighting a fabulous animal or monster

Scene Description: seen here on the right side of the image

Image Source: digital photograph taken 24 May 2018 by BSI

LB04: human figure - standing - 2

Scene Description: seen here on the left side of the image

Image Source: digital photograph taken 24 May 2018 by BSI

view of font base - detail

Image Source: digital photograph taken 24 May 2018 by BSI

view of font base - upper view

Image Source: digital photograph taken 24 May 2018 by BSI

view of font base - upper view

Image Source: digital photograph taken 24 May 2018 by BSI

view of font in context

Scene Description: the Hegvald (?) base is stored between the back of the altar and the east wasll of the apse

Image Source: digital photograph taken 24 May 2018 by BSI

view of font in context

Image Source: digital photograph taken 24 May 2018 by BSI

INFORMATION

FontID: 05318ALV

Church/Chapel: Alva kyrka

Church Location: S, Gotland, Sweden

Country Name: Sweden

Location: Gotland, Gotlands län

Directions to Site: Located off (E) highway 142, 2-3 km SSW of Hemse, 20 km ENE of Burgsvik

Ecclesiastic Region: Visby stift

Historical Region: Gotlands Län. Hemse ting, Gotlands län

Font Location in Church: [in May 2018 it was at the E end, hidden behind the altar]

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

Workshop/Group/Artisan: Hegvald? / Hegwald?

Font Notes: Click to view font notes

Described and illustrated in Sveriges Kyrkor: Gotland (Bd. VI, hft. 4: 323ff, 340): "Of the medieval font, only the seriously damaged foot remains [...]. It is of grey sandstone and of the common twelfth century type with heads (now broken off) at the four corners. On the fields between the heads are figure scenes in relief, very difficult to interpret." The carving is very worn, but the figures are still discernible: 1)two figures are seated on a throne or bench, one of them probably armed with a sword; 2)a human figure stands facing forward with arms akimbo; another, smaller, figure looking more like a monster, perhaps a griffin? on the left appears to grab his arm; 3)the man on the left wears calf-height pants and appears to be fighting a beast, dragon?, on the left; 4)two human figures facing front, the one on the left appears to hold the arm of the one on the right. There could be a story line between the scenes; some of the figures appear to be repeated on them.

COORDINATES

Church Latitude & Longitude Decimal: 57.207517, 18.361425

Church Latitude & Longitude DMS: 57° 12′ 27.06″ N, 18° 21′ 41.13″ E

UTM: 34V 340629 6343572

MEDIUM AND MEASUREMENTS

Material: stone, sandstone (grey)

Number of Pieces: one

Font Shape: [missing]

Basin Interior Shape: [missing]

Basin Exterior Shape: [missing]

Drainage Notes: [the basin is missing]

Height of Base: 38 cm*

Square Base Dimensions: 40 cm* [approx. diameter]

Notes on Measurements: Sveriges Kyrkor: Gotland (Bd. VI, hft. 4: 323) *[fragment only]

REFERENCES

Fåhraeus, Fredrik, "Dopfuntarna, deras tillbehör och placering på Gotland under medeltiden. En inventering.", Stockholm, 1974

Lundmark, Efraim, Sveriges kyrkor: Gotland, Stockholm: G. Tisell, 1925-1990

Roosval, Johnny, Medeltida kunst i Gotlands fornsal, Stockholm: A.-B. Gunnar Tisells tekniska förlag, 1925