Location
Set into wall of Marine Hotel, Shorehead (Harbourside), Stonehaven
Stonehaven, Kincardine
OS Map Reference
NO 877 855
Date
1600s
Description
(possibly 17th century, certainly older than the 1884 date of the building) carved heads thought to have originated at the nearby Dunnottar Castle, situated to the south of Stonehaven. Although badly weathered, the fine carving can still be seen on those of the human and lion heads.
Wall-mounted clock set in slightly raised decorative pedimented panel at lintel level between outer bays at right, and 4 carved heads and central shield date stone (see related atefacts) regularly disposed between ground and 1st floors
Related Information
Historic Scotland's entry refers to one of these as a "female head" my own suspicion is that they originally represented the 4 beasts of the four evangelists: the lion of St. Mark, the ox of Luke, the eagle of St. John and the angel/human of St. Matthew; which would suggest a religious context for their original site. The ox, lion and human head are clear however I admit it is a bit hard to discern an eagle in the fourth.
Era
1600s
Information Source
Historic Scotland, listed buildings
Related Artefacts
Categories
Iconography
- animals in general
- bull or cow
- human face or head
- religious figure
Photographer
- Mark Woodfin
Unavailable Data
- Creator
- External Links
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