> The monumental brass of Sir William Vernon and Margaret Swynfen is > located in Tong Church, Shropshire. It was placed there in 1467 which > means she had died by that time. Pictures of the brass are available > on the Internet, the best is at: > http://www.mbs-brasses.co.uk/pic_lib/Tong_Brass.htm. Does anyone have a clue what the beast at her feet on the Brass could be? The only thing I've seen that is even remotely similar is the Bamburgh beast, found on a seventh-century gold plaque at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland. Any thoughts as to what this is? Jim

Jim - I like this site to elucidate Medieval religious Symbolism - http://www.bullis.org/edprograms/socialstudies/medieval/churchlife.htm check out the snout on the creature to the left in "The Temptation of St Anthony" It is very similar to that which Sir William Vernon's wife seems to have subdued.. Actually, it is not that rare a face in Medieval art, although the body features change - but there were endless variations on devils and evil spirits during that period. In the Tong brasses, I particularly enjoy Sir William's teeny little twinkly spurs and what appears to be the clover on which he stands. (Must look that up) True to my tendency to read much into artistic symbolism - I share the thought that Margaret Swynfen was perhaps the more pious of the two and Sir William the more carefree? Barbara > The monumental brass of Sir William Vernon and Margaret Swynfen is > located in Tong Church, Shropshire. It was placed there in 1467 which > means she had died by that time. Pictures of the brass are available > on the Internet, the best is at: > http://www.mbs-brasses.co.uk/pic_lib/Tong_Brass.htm. Does anyone have a clue what the beast at her feet on the Brass could be? The only thing I've seen that is even remotely similar is the Bamburgh beast, found on a seventh-century gold plaque at Bamburgh Castle in Northumberland. Any thoughts as to what this is? Jim ============================== Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237

Barbara, Barbara wrote: >Jim - >I like this site to elucidate Medieval religious Symbolism - >http://www.bullis.org/edprograms/socialstudies/medieval/churchlife.htm >check out the snout on the creature to the left in "The Temptation of St >Anthony" It is very similar to that which Sir William Vernon's wife seems to >have subdued.. > But the body of the beast on her brass is more dog-like. Note the ears also. > Actually, it is not that rare a face in Medieval art, >although the body features change - but there were endless variations on >devils and evil spirits during that period. >In the Tong brasses, I particularly enjoy Sir William's teeny little twinkly >spurs and what appears to be the clover on which he stands. (Must look that >up) > I don't doubt the symbolism of the clover (shamrocks), what I was curious about is the heraldic emblem (which I'm pretty sure that is) at her feet. I don't think it's an evil spirit. Has anyone seen anything like this on a coat of arms? Could this be some clue in the form of a family emblem? Anyway, I was just curious. Jim

Hi Jim - You're right they are different. I also said "Actually, it (the elephantlike snout) is not that rare a face in Medieval art, although the body features change" - And I might add here that there were as many depictions of the devil and demons in art of that period as there were fears of and vivid imaginations in regard to the unseen. But I am curious too - If anyone figures out what the artist specifically had in mind here, I hope they post it. Barbara Jim wrote: Barbara, Barbara wrote: >Jim - >I like this site to elucidate Medieval religious Symbolism - >http://www.bullis.org/edprograms/socialstudies/medieval/churchlife.htm >check out the snout on the creature to the left in "The Temptation of St >Anthony" It is very similar to that which Sir William Vernon's wife seems to >have subdued.. > But the body of the beast on her brass is more dog-like. Note the ears also. > Actually, it is not that rare a face in Medieval art, >although the body features change - but there were endless variations on >devils and evil spirits during that period. >In the Tong brasses, I particularly enjoy Sir William's teeny little twinkly >spurs and what appears to be the clover on which he stands. (Must look that >up) > I don't doubt the symbolism of the clover (shamrocks), what I was curious about is the heraldic emblem (which I'm pretty sure that is) at her feet. I don't think it's an evil spirit. Has anyone seen anything like this on a coat of arms? Could this be some clue in the form of a family emblem? Anyway, I was just curious. Jim ============================== Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237

At the feet of William seems to be shamrocks, always the sign of the holy trinity. Just my hunch, but you might check it out. Paulette Marta