A Good Medieval Oak Pew End

Having a tall central poppy head finial, beautifully carved with the finest detail of leaves, cornheads and berries.

Flanking the finial are the remnants of a pair of saints - lacking heads and features, removed during the desecration of churches and monasteries by Henry VIII in the mid-16th century.

Remarkably, the poppy head has not been removed from the pew end, as is often the case, to be mounted and shown as a desirable but smaller piece of medieval sculpture.

English, Suffolk or Kent, circa 1450.

See Charles Tracey, English Medieval Furniture and Woodwork, page 108-110.

Height 44 inches, width 14 inches, depth 2.5 inches.

Ref 2592

Provenance - The Clive Sherwood Collection, sold Sotheby's, May 2002.