Page:VCH Norfolk 2.djvu/635

EARLY CHRISTIAN ART The most remarkable specimen of zoomorphic ornament is on the base of the font at Great Hautbois, which is composed of interlaced dragons, very much resembling Saxon work in style. As a general rule the zoomorphic and anthropomorphic decoration on the Norman fonts of Norfolk consists of semi-human semi-bestial grotesque heads placed in the following different ways : — Three heads in a horizontal row on one of the faces of the square bowl (Castle Rising). Four heads, one at each of the lower corners of the bowl, and forming the capitals of the supporting columns (South Wotton). Two heads, one at each of two of the upper corners of the bowl, with foliage issuing from the mouths (Burnham Deepdale). Four heads, one at each of the upper corners of the bowl, with foliage issuing from the mouths (Toftrees). Four heads, one at each of the upper corners of the bowl, with a plaited cable passing through the mouths (Sculthorpe). Four heads, one in the middle of each face of the bowl at the bottom (Shernborne). Foliage is used in the decoration of nearly all the Norman fonts of Norfolk, and is of the usual conventional kind which was common in the twelfth century in England. Although there are so many fine Norman doorways in Norfolk, it is remarkable that only two of them should have sculptured tympana. These are at Tottenhill and Mintlyn, as already mentioned. The design on the Tottenhill * tympanum consists of a circular cross, with expanded ends to the arms, surrounded by a cable moulding which is continued along the edge of the lintel. The Mintlyn ° tympanum is similar, but the circular space where the cross should be is left plain, possibly with the intention of having the cross painted. The most characteristic examples of Norman doorways without tympana, but having elaborately sculptured arch mouldings, are at Heckingham, Chedgrave, Gissing, Hales, and Sheringham. The doorways at Barton St. Mary have beak-heads, and sometimes there are grotesque heads on the keystone of the arch (as at Kirby Cane), or at the lower ends of the hood- moulding (as at Sheringham) . Geometrical star-patterns occur at Framlingham Earl and Sheringham, and interlaced work at Wroxham. The richest of the doorways have three orders of mouldings of the usual Norman type. Illustrations of a large number of the Norman doorways of Norfolk are given in J. S. Cotman's Specimens of Norman and Gothic Architecture in the County of Norfolk ; Specimens of Architectural Antiquities in various Counties in "England ; and A Series of etchings illustrative of the Architectural Antiquities of Norfolk. Amongst the miscellaneous architectural details exhibiting Norman sculpture, those deserving most notice are the niches with figures over door- ways at Norwich and Haddiscoe. ' C. E. Keyser, Norman Tympana and Lintels, fig. 1 2. ' Cotman, Architectural Etchings, ser. 3, vol. 2, pi. 29. 563