Accession Number1968/2.47
TitleArchitectural ceiling boss with four faces, probably from the Church of St. Andrew at Cullompton
Artist(s)EnglishObject Creation Datecirca 1430Medium & Supportwood with polychromeDimensions 7 5/8 in. x 7 5/8 in. x 1 3/8 in. ( 19.3 cm x 19.3 cm x 3.5 cm )
Credit LineMuseum PurchaseLabel copyMarch 28, 2009
Ceiling bosses are ornamental projections at the intersections of ribs in a vault or ceiling, and they are common decorations in Gothic architecture. Examples can be found in the entryways of the Neo-Gothic buildings of the Law School across South University Street. The pair of bosses displayed here possibly came from the parish church of Saint Andrew of Cullompton in Devonshire, England, built in 1430. One boss depicts a pair of rampant dragons with open wings and flared tails flanking a vegetal form, while the other represents four faces, two male and two female, arranged in a circular pattern. The symmetry of these designs would have reflected the geometric order of the church’s interior, which boasts elaborate wooden ceilings decorated with hundreds of bosses.
Subject matterThis architectural boss decorated with four faces was originally placed in the crown of a ceiling vault at the point where the ribs of the vault met. The arrangement of the four faces would have reinforced the expansive radial pattern formed by the ribs while the boss itself would have simultaneously emphasized the center of the vault.
Physical DescriptionThis ceiling boss features four faces with traces of paint that are arranged in a radial pattern with the crowns of their heads converging on a single, central point. Two of the faces are female, identifiable by the wimples worn on their heads, while the other two, wearing small pointed caps and sporting beards, are male. The symmetrical regularity of the piece is counterbalanced by subtle asymmetries introduced by differences in detail and the sequence of facial types.
Primary Object Classification Sculpture Primary Object TypecarvingAdditional Object Classification(s)Decorative ArtsCollection AreaWesternRightsIf you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit
http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form.
Keywords
bosses
carvings (visual works)
faces (animal components)
vaults (structural elements)
wood (plant material)