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A Little Book of Misericords
Presenting a selection of the most fascinating manifestations of misericords this collection explains the background and meaning behind each subject in text and illustrations.
- GenresNonfictionArt
64 pages, Hardcover
First published June 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 5, 2015
This was another entertaining slim volume in the A Little book of…series and was informative as well.
According to the author, Mike Harding’s introduction misericords are the carved wooden tip=up seats, found in European churches and cathedrals, and were designed to give comfort to the older monks during the very long hours of services. Misericord from the Latin for pity and heart. From the 11th to 15th centuries these under seat ledgers were decorated with beautifully carved images of animals, biblical scenes, people and other inspirations. They were usually carved from a single oak block but rarely seen by the congregation. But at one Cathedral they held special days on which the laity were allowed into the choir’s inner sanctum and they could see them. I didn’t realise until reading this book that the small, often round, carvings that flank the main image are called supporters.
Despite the misericord’s proximity to the altar, Biblical scenes were outnumbered by secular inspirations and figures from everyday life and folklore such as the woodwose, a wild man of the woods.
I must say that after reading this book I will look a lot harder at these seats as I now know the intriguing delights that could lie underneath.
The lively introduction leads onto another good selection of the author’s full colour photos that demonstrate the breadth and scope of the anonymous carvers as well as the variety of subjects. I’d like to say that it often gave them a bit of fun or carving practice knowing that these scenes would rarely be seen.
According to the author, Mike Harding’s introduction misericords are the carved wooden tip=up seats, found in European churches and cathedrals, and were designed to give comfort to the older monks during the very long hours of services. Misericord from the Latin for pity and heart. From the 11th to 15th centuries these under seat ledgers were decorated with beautifully carved images of animals, biblical scenes, people and other inspirations. They were usually carved from a single oak block but rarely seen by the congregation. But at one Cathedral they held special days on which the laity were allowed into the choir’s inner sanctum and they could see them. I didn’t realise until reading this book that the small, often round, carvings that flank the main image are called supporters.
Despite the misericord’s proximity to the altar, Biblical scenes were outnumbered by secular inspirations and figures from everyday life and folklore such as the woodwose, a wild man of the woods.
I must say that after reading this book I will look a lot harder at these seats as I now know the intriguing delights that could lie underneath.
The lively introduction leads onto another good selection of the author’s full colour photos that demonstrate the breadth and scope of the anonymous carvers as well as the variety of subjects. I’d like to say that it often gave them a bit of fun or carving practice knowing that these scenes would rarely be seen.
March 31, 2012
I absolutely love this Little Book series. The photographs are wonderful and the descriptions are short and informative. It's a little pocket-size delight! I would like to own the entire series, but I have found that the books are very difficult to find!
July 5, 2008
This is a beautiful little book packed with information about those little-known, intriguing works of art known as misericords, or "mercy seats".
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews