Carved figure with pecking birds.

Partially damaged late medieval carved figure from a medieval church in East Galway. It consists of a pair of birds pecking at a human head. The open beaks and parts of the wings of the pair of bird are shown but difficult to identify at first. This carving was likely part of a suite of late medieval carving on either a doorway or chancel arch.The carving style is similar to the work found on the west doorway at Clontuskert Abbey.

Posted by Christy Cunniffe on Saturday, 9 December 2017

Carved figure with pecking birds.

Shows the human head being pecked by a pair of birds.

 

Late medieval figure

Dr. Christy Cunniffe

A partially damaged late medieval carved figure from a medieval church in East Galway. It consists of a pair of birds pecking at a human head. The open beaks and parts of the wings of the pair of bird are shown but difficult to identify at first. This carving was likely part of a suite of late medieval carving on either a doorway or chancel arch. The carving style is similar to the work found on the west doorway at Clontuskert Abbey. It is possibly the work of Johannes the late medoeval mason who singed his work at Portumna and Clontuskert.  Pecking birds and beasts flanking human heads are a common motif in Christian art.