Friday, February 03, 2006

This is a wood carving from St. Mary's church, Haverfordwest.
These wood carvings were removed when the church was restored at the end of the 19th century. They probably formed part of the roof decoration, the largest almost certainly being a roof boss. The predominant decorative theme is clearly leafy and floral. The finest piece shows the 'Green Man' or ('Jack in the street'). Originally this was probably the personification of the spirit in the pagan tree-symbol. The Church adopted it and it became a common theme in ecclesiastical carving.

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