A Pair of Amphisbaena

A Fabulous Medieval Carved Oak Door Panel

The Amphisbaena is a mythical medieval dragon, or serpent, with a head at each end of the body. Normally found in English churches – one school of thought is that the monster represents deceit (living a double life), or Satan, who was known to be the arch-deceiver.

An alternative view was that the beast represented vigilance – one head slept whilst the other kept watch.

This panel, once a door from a medieval cupboard, is superbly carved. Good detail to the heads, scales along the body, and the background enriched with small stamped flowerheads. To create the impression of a frame, there is a deep gouge-carved border just set in from the edge.

Evidence of the original hinge position, and rebate at the opposite end to allow the door to sit into a frame.

English, probably Suffolk, circa 1400-1450.

Width 16 inches, height 10 inches.

Ref 2639

See “God’s Beasts” by M W Tisdall, page 12, where a similar panel, also from Suffolk, is illustrated.

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