Sculptured stone (cast)

This cast was taken from a sculptured stone originally found near the old chapel of Riasg Buidhe on Colonsay in the Inner Hebrides, but now at Colonsay House. The original stone was carved in the 9th or 10th century.

The pillar was shaped and decorated to form a stylised cross, the upper part of which ends in a head representing God or Christ. The back of the cross was incised to give the head a phallic appearance.

The closest parallels to the unusual stone from Riasg Buidhe are to be found in Mediterranean art, almost certainly filtered through Ireland. Contacts between Ireland and the Western Isles were strong at this period, particularly between the churches.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-102-605-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.IB 87
• Date: 9th or 10th century
  Date of original stone: 9th or 10th century; date of cast: 19th century
  
• Material: One side has incised human figure
  Cross / cast
  
• Dimensions: 53" x 14.5" L
  
• What: Cross / cast
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Argyll, Colonsay, Chapel of Rlask Buidhe
  
• Event:
• Description: Nineteenth century cast of stone cross, from Riasg Buidhe, Colonsay, 9th or 10th century
  
• References:
  • Foster, Sally M. Picts, Gaels and Scots. Early Historic Scotland. London and Edinburgh: B.T. Batsford Ltd and Historic Scotland, 1996, p 97. 
• Translations:
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