Ivy

Saw this beautiful carving whilst in the churchyard today. The contrast in texture between the polished stone and the grittier finish on which the ivy is carved is striking. Over the years lichen has developed on the carving which adds texture and colour to the ivy. I wonder if the master craftsman responsible for this piece had foreseen this effect on his work over a hundred years ago. A while ago I blipped this Celtic cross, although in a different churchyard locally, it is contemporaneous with this one. The concept and quality of the work is very similar and must have been done by the same hand. Unlike other art forms no trace of the artist is provided and his work would have gone largely unrecognised and yet to my eye at least, this is quite lovely.

Beautiful blue skies today, but last minute Christmas shopping took me in to town in the afternoon :( But tonight was a brisk run up to the Mast on Winter Hill with friends and a Christmas drink in the pub to finish.