Misericord

Misericords are folding wooden seats on which priests and monks could rest during lengthy services. Their name, taken from the medieval Latin word misericordia or mercy, perhaps refers to the relief of having somewhere to perch during lengthy medieval services. The undersides of misericords are often decoratively and humorously carved. This one was created for St Augustine's Abbey in around 1520. It shows a bawdy scene and was part of a series depicting tales from the Romance of Reynard the Fox. Perhaps due to its obscene nature or the re-organisation of the quire it was removed and, until its recent re-discovery and identification, was believed to have been destroyed.

British Archaeology , Q3310, misericord (image/tiff)
Acknowledgement: ©Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives Acknowledgement: ©Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives Acknowledgement: ©Bristol Museums, Galleries and Archives

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Summary

: Q3310

: British Archaeology

: misericord (seat)

: Oak misericord seat carved with an amusing / lewd scene of a bearded man bending over in a mooning gesture, towards the fool, in the trappings of an archer, who is drawing a crossbow and aiming straight for the mans nude buttocks. The two supporters show scenes from the tales of Reynard the Fox; the right hand supporter shows a fox in a clerical habit holding the neck of a goose between its paws, representing a satire on the clergy who lead their trusting parishioners astray. Traces of burning around the seat edge of the misericord are visible and the original hinges remain.

Misericord

Current Location

On Display at M Shed, Bristol Places Gallery

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: Bristol, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) / England, Northern Europe, Europe

: Bristol, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) / England, Northern Europe, Europe

: Bristol Cathedral, Bristol Cathedral

: St Augustine

: 1520 (circa)

: Medieval

: Purchased, 2007, with support from the MLA/V&A Purchase Grant Fund and Art Fund.

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