Q to S

C1420 Thame, Oxfordshire

Dimensions of whole product (figure may lay within this):

Height in inches: 14.5

Width in inches: 7.5

Weight in kg: 1.2

Full Scale, Replica or Theme? Replica

Thomas Quartermain was a large landowner in North Weston near Thame. One of four bracket brasses commemorating him and his immediate family, they include a very pleasing brass to his wife Katherine, their son Thomas (unfortunately only the upper half of which remains) and his wife Joan. Their tomb was formerly known as the "Poor Stone" because the various charitable gifts were placed on it before distribution. Both Thomas and his wife Katherine died in 1342 but their memorial brass was not engraved until about 1420, four years after the death of their son Thomas. The brass was probably commissioned by Thomas's widow Joan. The brasses to Thomas and Katherine, though well worn, make a very pleasing pair.

C1420 Thame, Oxfordshire

Dimensions of whole product (figure may lay within this):

Height in inches: 14.5

Width in inches: 7.5

Weight in kg: 1.3

Full Scale, Replica or Theme? Replica

Katherine was the wife of Thomas (another brass in the series) and daughter of Guy and Joan Breton, grand-daughter of Sir Robert Grey of Rotherfield. One of four bracket brasses which include her husband, her son Thomas and his wife Joan, the original brass was engraved around 1420, some eighty years after Katherine and her husband died in 1342. This would account for Katherine wearing the Crespine headdress which did not come into fashion until the early 15th Century. The brass was probably commissioned by Katherine's daughter-in-law Joan after the death of her own husband Thomas in 1396.

C1420 Thame Oxfordshire

Dimensions of whole product (figure may lay within this):

Height in inches: 14.5

Width in inches: 7.5

Weight in kg: 1.2

Full Scale, Replica or Theme? Replica

Joan was the wife of Thomas Quartermain, the son of Thomas and Katherine Quartermain, rich landowners in North Weston, near Thame. The original memorial is one of four bracket brasses to be found in Thame Church. It shows Joan in widow's dress together with her husband (unfortunately only the upper half of his effigy remains) and her husband's parents. It is probable that she commissioned these four brasses after the death of her husband in 1396 which would account for Katheraine Quartermain being shown wearing the fashionable dress of the early 15th Century, when she actually lived in the mid 14th Century.

C1460 Thame Oxfordshire

Dimensions of whole product (figure may lay within this):

Height in inches: 14.5

Width in inches: 7.5

Weight in kg: 1.2

Full Scale, Replica or Theme? Replica

Richard Quartermain (originally spelt Quatremayns) was the grandson of Thomas Quartermain, also included in this series. Richard was Councillor to Richard, Duke of York and to King Edward IV. In conjunction with his wife Sibil, he built the beautiful chapel of Rycote. His armour with the exaggerated elbow-cops, bears witness to the experiences of fighting in the Wars of the Roses, when many adjustments to armour were made. These elbow-cops grew larger until, after 1450, the shield was finally abandoned and the elbow cop on the left arm took its place. The original engraving is part of the family memorial which includes his wife Sibil and a godson, Richard Fowler (also in the series).

1500

Fovant, Wiltshire

Size in inches - 19" by 14"

Weight in kg: 2.7

1621 Bray, Berkshire.

Dimensions of whole product (figure may lay within this):

Height in inches: 25.5

Width in inches: 21

Weight in kg: 5.5

Full Scale, Replica or Theme? Full Scale

John Rixman M.A. was a Fellow of St. John's College, Oxford. He is shown in a long robe with a neck ruffle, kneeling at a table, whilst opposite him is his wife Mary wearing a dress with tight sleeves, a ruffle at the neck and a Paris Hood on her head. The inscription below the figures says they were married for 35 years and that John obtained two Arts degrees while studying at Oxford. In order to marry his beloved Mary he was forced to resign from Univesity. This brass is typical of the period in that it commemorates a scholar. In the 14th and 15th centuries only the wealthy aristocracy could afford commemoration in brass.

1470 Stoke Rochford, Lincolnshire

Dimensions of whole product (figure may lay within this):

Height in inches: 33.5

Width in inches: 14

Weight in kg: 5.0

Full Scale, Replica or Theme? Full Scale

Henry Rochforth is wearing elaborate armour, probably of German origin, decorated with fluting, incorporating a beaver ( a plate to protect throat and chin). His sallet helmet with visor was a favoured combination for the battlefield. The solid backed gauntlets with open palms gave maximum protection with freedom to grasp a sword or rein. The helmet curves are echoed in the shoulder guards and the elkbow pieces, which are fairly exaggerated in shape. His wife, Elizabeth Bygod, was daughter of Lord Scrope of Bolton. She survived him and later married Oliver St John. Brasses to Elizabeth and Oliver and their children are included in this series.

1550

Groot Kerk, Bred, Holland

Size in inches - 24" by 24"

Weight in kg: 5.8

1347

Elsing, Norfolk

Size in inches - 11" by 11"

Weight in kg: 1.3

1503 Stoke Rochford, Lincolnshire

Dimensions of whole product (figure may lay within this):

Height in inches: 23.5

Width in inches: 10

Weight in kg: 2.5

Full Scale, Replica or Theme? Full Scale

Oliver was the second son of Sir Oliver St John of Bletso in Bedfordshire and his wife Margaret, daughter and heir of sir John Beauchamp of Powke.

Both branches of the family continue today, as Baron St john of Bletso; the title Beachamp of Powke is borne by the present Earl Beauchamp. Oliver's mother married secondly John Beaufort, Duke of Somerset, whose family fought for the Lancastrian side during the War of the Roses. Through her daughter, also called Margaret, she was grandmother to Henry VII, the first Tudor monarch. The armour is early Tudor with a mailed shirt and square toed sabbatons on his feet. The brass forms part of the family memorial including his wife Elizabeth, their five sons and three daughters.

1503 Stoke Rochford, Lincolnshire

Dimensions of whole product (figure may lay within this):

Height in inches: 23.5

Width in inches: 10

Weight in kg: 2.5

Full Scale, Replica or Theme? Full Scale

Dame Elizabeth was the daughter of Henry, Lord Scrope of Bolton. Her first husband was Henry Rochforth, another in this series. Elizabeth's second husband Oliver St John came from an old and influential family and their five sons and three daughters are to be seen on two more brasses. Elizabeth wears a kennel or pedimental headdress. In this style the face is framed by stiff bands of embroidered material which meet in a sharp point over the forehead and falls to the shoulders. She wears a narrow sleeved gown with fur trimmed cuffs and a high neck, the waist is loosely clasped with a long girdle.

1503

Stoke Rochford, Lincolnshire

Size in inches; 10" by 8"

Weight in kg: 0.8

15003

Stoke Rochford, Lincoln

Size in inches - 10" by 8"

Weight in kg: 0.8

C1500 Edenham, Lincolnshire

Dimensions of whole product (figure may lay within this):

Height in inches: 38

Width in inches: 15

Weight in kg: 5.5

Full Scale, Replica or Theme? Reduced Scale

This finely engraved brass is unique in that until 1910 it was mounted forty feet up on the outside of the church tower, from where it looked out over the delightful Lincolnshire countryside for over four hundred years.

In the time of King Henry VIII, when the final break with the Church of Rome took place in England, Henry's emissaries travelled the kingdom seeking out and destroying all relics of the famous English Saint. The position of this brass, however, ensured it's safety: as local legend has it, "Henry just did not have a long enough ladder"!

No records exist to indicate who is commemorated by the brass but from the rivet holes - still visible by the tower clock - he was depicted as a small figure kneeling at the feet of, and being blessed by, the Archbishop

Scenes taken from a huge Flemish brass dedicated to Bishop Serkin (1317) and Bishop Mul 1350, Lubeck, Germany.

Dimensions of whole product (figure may lay within this):

Height in inches: 5.5

Width in inches: 25.5

Weight in kg: 2.1

Full Scale, Replica or Theme? Full Scale

Under Bishop Mul are scenes from the life of St Eloi.

1. His mother dreams of her son's sanctity,

2. He is baptized and

3. Becomes a metal worker, seizing the devil with his pincers

4. He is consecrated bishop.

5. Drives out the devil and

6. Heals a lame man.

St. Eloi was a metal worker in the area from which this brass later came.

Size in inches; 24" by 10"

Weight in kg: 2.5

Scenes taken from a huge Flemish brass dedicated to Bishop Serkin (1317) and Bishop Mul 1350, Lubeck, Germany.

Dimensions of whole product (figure may lay within this):

Height in inches: 5.5

Width in inches: 25.5

Weight in kg: 2.1

Full Scale, Replica or Theme? Full Scale

Serkin was bishop from 1276-1317, dying aged 121. Under him are scenes from the life of St Nicholas;

1. Nicholas gives three bags of gold to three girls to save them from prostitution-(later to become the pawnbroker's sign).

2. Nicholas is consecrated bishop.

3. A child has fallen into a boiling pot and is about to be healed by him.

4 Three boys are murdered and

5. Pickled in a bacon tub from which St Nicholas revives them.

6. He saves a ship in a storm on his way to the Holy Land

1462 Nivelles, Belgium

Dimensions of whole product (figure may lay within this):

Height in inches: 22.5

Width in inches: 35

Weight in kg: 8.00

Full Scale, Replica or Theme? Reduced Scale

The 7th Century Abbey Nivelles survived the Middle Ages, only to be destroyed in the last war. This fragment alone survives of a much larger brass, and is one of the best preserved of flemish brasses.

Marguerite was Abbess from 1443-1462. She built the Great Gate and founded a Daily Mass. She is shown being presented to the enthroned Virgin and Child by her patron Saint, St. Margaret. Legend has it that St. Maragaret was imprisoned and martyred for her faith, during which time she was tempted by the devil in the form of a dragon; she chased him away by the sign of the Cross, thus the beast depicted here represents the devil.

The symbols of the four Evangelists appear in the corners, with a rich tapestry of griffins, interwoven branches and foliage. The shields are probably the arms of Marguerite's family, proving her required nobility.

1548

Batherwyck, Northamptonshire

Size in inches; 30" by 11"

Weight in kg: 3.5

Sir Humphry Staffordthe younger, was at one time Esquire for the Body to Henry VIII.

His father (also Humfrey), had played a prominent roll for the Yorkist cause, and faught at the battle of Bosworth field in 1485, when Richard III was killed.

The new king deprived the family of it's lands.

However, Sir Humfrey (whose memorial this is), gradually restored the family to royal favour and received a pardon from Henry VIII and in 1515 was granted a partial restoration of his father's lands.

The brass shows him in an unusual three-quarter profile, with a small close helmet behind his head, in plate armour, over a deep mail shirt.

1306 Chartham, Kent

Dimensions of whole product (figure may be within this):

Height in inches: 21

Width in inches: 7

Weight in kg: 2.1

Full Scale, Replica or Theme? Replica

This famous knight is one of the oldest in England. He wears a padded garment called an eketon under his mail shirt under his mail shirt to absorb the shock of the blows. Bareheaded, the coif lying on his shoulders, his haubecrk (shirt of mail) extends to form mittens. The brass is rare in that it shows ailettes, small shields hung at right angles to the shoulders to protect him from glancing blows. His beautifully decorated knee cops are made of metal or cuir-boulli (boiled leather) and short pryk spurs are strapped to his heels. A surcoat, tied at the waist, is charged with his device of winnowing fans, a pun on the name. Sir Robert's son Sir William, was Constable of Canterbury Castle in 1320-21

Same as the above, but;

Height in inches; 38"

Width in inches; 15"

Weight in kg: 5.8

Replica

(This is a larger version of the previous brass)

Dimensions of whole product (figure may lay within this):

Height in inches: 81

Width in inches: 27

Weight in kg: 24.0

Full Scale, Replica or Theme? Full Scale

1975, Royal shakespeare Theatre, Stratford upon Avon

Dimensions of whole product (figure may lay within this):

Height in inches: 17

Width in inches: 10

Weight in kg: 2.1

Full Scale, Replica or Theme? Reduced Scale BLACK OUTER

This modern brass was commissioned to commemorate the centenary of the theatre, and the 50th anniversary of the granting of its Royal Charter. Designed and engraved by Joseph Hilton, the style is faithful to 1616, taken from an engraving by Droeshout which appeared in the printed porfolio of Shakespeares work. Ben Johnson approved the likeness.

In Henry V, Act IV, before Agincourt, Shakespeare himself referred to monumental brasses thus:

'A many of our bodies shall no doubt find native graves, upon which I trust Shall witness live in brass of this day's work'.

Size in inches; 27" by 12"

Weight in kg: 3.3

1505 Westminster Abbey

Dimensions of whole product (figure may lay within this):

Height in inches: 40

Width in inches: 20

Weight in kg: 8.0

Full Scale, Replica or Theme? Full Scale

This brass is set in the pavement in the Chapel of St Nicholas in the Abbey. Sir Humphrey was knighted by Henry VII for his services to his King at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485 when King Richard III was defeated. In trying to escape from the battlefield Richard's horse floundered in mud, the King was surrounded by his enemies and killed. Thomas Stanley, a relative of Humphrey was created Earl of Derby in 1485 for his services in that battle, it was he who placed the Crown on the ehad of Henry VII, the victorious Richmond. His armour is typical, showing curved shoulder pieces which appeared in armour about this time, aimed at glancing off blows to the neck. The left-hand shield contains the Arms of the Earls of Derby and we presume the right-hand shield is that of Stanley's mother whilst the centre shield would be his own