Brass Rubbing: William Dalison?

1982.05.0112

Thumbnail of Brass Rubbing: William Dalison? (1982.05.0112)

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Basic Information

Artifact Identification Brass Rubbing: William Dalison?   (1982.05.0112)
Classification/
Nomenclature
  1. Communication Artifacts
  2. :
  3. Documentary Artifacts
  4. :
  5. Graphic Documents
Artist/Maker Kathleen H. Cairns.
Geographic Location
Period Medieval
Date 1400 CE
Culture British, English

Physical Analysis

Dimension 1 (Length) 223.0 cm
Dimension 2 (Width) 104.0 cm
Dimension 3 (Depth) 1.0 cm
Weight 376 g
Measuring Remarks Under Review
Materials Paper, Plant--Wood, Metal--Steel, Pigment
Manufacturing Processes Rubbing

Research Remarks

Description

From the catalogue, An Exhibition of Medieval Brass Rubbings by Kathleen H. Cairns. "Man in armour, probably of the Dalison family, c. 1400. An altar tomb. This brass was altered in the 16th century by the insertion of a new foot inscription to William Dalison, 1549. He was sheriff, escheator and justice of the peace for the county. The inscription was also for his son and heir, George. See rubbing from Gunby for a similar appropriation of a memorial. INSCRIPTION: Here lies William D'Alison, Esquire, formerly sheriff and Receiver for the county of Lincoln and the 7th Justice of the Peace of the same county. And George D'Alison, son and heir of the above William, who died December 18th A.D. 1546, the 37th year of the Imperial Reign of King Henry VIII and the said George died January 22d A.D. 1549 in the third year of the Imperial Reign of King Edward VI. Upon whose souls may God have mercy. Amen."

From Bontell:
This is one of the finest and most martial effigies of the period. The armour and accoutrements are all elaborately enriched. The transverse sword-belt here makes its first appearance in this series of military brasses: and it is worn with the broad hip-belt. The triple canopy is very splendid, and the vaulted soffits of its three arches are represented. The original inscriptions have been lost; and in their place a more recent legend has been substituted, which bears the names of William and George Dalison, Esquires, A.D. 1543, and 1549: hence it appears "that the Dalisons surreptitiously appropriated the tomb and effigy of some earlier knight to be their own memorial."
Bontell, Monumental Brasses of England (1849).

Published Description Under Review
Bibliography

Cairns, Kathleen H. An Exhibition of Medieval Brass Rubbings, December 7, 1969 through January 4, 1970. Frick Fine Arts Building, University of Pittsburgh. Catalog #53.

Felgate, T.M. Knights on Suffolk Brasses. East Anglian Magazine Ltd. Ipswich, Sufflok 1976.
Spinke, Winifred. A Memento from Old England. Bury St. Edmunds, n.d.

Bontell, Rev. Charles. Monumental Brasses of England (1849), p. 34.

Artifact History

Credit Line/Dedication Gift of Kathleen H. Cairns
Reproduction no

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