English Church Woodwork: A Study in Craftsmanship During the Mediaeval Period, 1250-1550
London: B T Batsford, 1927.
WHEN ENGLISH CARVERS SHAPED THE CHURCH
A substantial and well-illustrated survey of medieval English ecclesiastical woodwork, documenting three centuries of craftsmanship across parish churches, cathedrals, and religious foundations. Howard and Crossley present one of the classic early twentieth-century studies of surviving choir stalls, screens, misericords, bench ends, pulpits, and decorative carving produced between 1250 and 1550.
The volume remains valuable both as a reference work and as a visual record of church furnishings that have since been altered, restored, or lost. Profusely illustrated with photographs and measured drawings, it captures the extraordinary range of regional carving traditions and workshop practices that flourished during the medieval period. Collectors of architecture, decorative arts, ecclesiastical history, and Gothic design continue to seek the title for its scholarly usefulness and rich visual content.
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Publisher's original blue cloth with gilt-stamped spine and front-cover titling, decorative gilt border, and blind-stamped emblem on the upper board. Quarto; 10.25 inches tall; 370 pages with index. Profusely illustrated throughout with black-and-white photographs and line drawings. Second Edition.
CONDITION: Bindings are tight and secure. Text is clean; light, even age-toning. Moderate shelf handling wear. A small area of cloth color loss is present on the upper rear board. Gilt remains attractive and the volume presents well on the shelf. First Edition.
HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE —
Published during a period of renewed interest in medieval craftsmanship and architectural preservation, this work helped document England's surviving ecclesiastical woodwork at a time when many churches were undergoing restoration campaigns. It remains an important visual reference for students of Gothic architecture, church furnishings, medieval design, and traditional woodworking techniques.
CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS
+++ Comprehensive survey of English church woodwork from 1250–1550
+++ Documents choir stalls, screens, misericords, pulpits, and bench ends
+++ Hundreds of photographic illustrations and measured drawings
+++ Valuable record of furnishings altered or lost since publication
+++ Strong reference for Gothic architecture and decorative arts collections
SUBJECTS: English Church Woodwork; Medieval Craftsmanship; Gothic Architecture; Ecclesiastical Furnishings; Misericords; Church Screens; Decorative Woodcarving; English Religious History, Architecture; Decorative Arts; Ecclesiastical History; Medieval Studies.
Item #22076
Price: $75.00
Other books you may like
