Footnotes

Perhaps one of the most characteristic types of English ecclesiastical sculpture in the late 16th and early 17th century, 'Kneeler's' were tomb memorials usually modelled as figures of kneeling and praying knights or merchants and ladies or their family members.

The tradition of these distinctive figures in England and Wales is probably derived from the custom of 'Pleurants' or 'Weepers' prevalent in the Burgundy region of France. Originating in the earlier Medieval period, figures at first tended to be modelled in flat relief and were often displayed under the framework of decorative canopies. However by the mid-15th century they had become three dimensional sculpted forms carved in marble, alabaster or stone rather than cast in bronze with the male and female subjects either depicted singularly or extending to the surviving family and children praying for their departed loved ones.

Standard figural depictions from this later period are typically modelled freestanding, kneeling on cushions or sometimes before prayer desks clad in elaborate costumes often with exaggerated ruff collars. Male figures depicted as merchants were usually clad in long flowing or cleric-like robes whereas those depicted as knights were usually fully or semi-clad in plate armour sometimes with cloaks. Female figures were usually depicted wearing a cap or hat and later in the 16th century their farthingale skirts and sometimes their sleeves became exaggeratedly wider. However both sets of figures would always be depicted with a full round or fan-like half ruffs. Male and female figures depicting husband and wife were often positioned to face each and children might also be depicted in miniature either as a separate group or with the figures themselves, the boys with their father and the girls with their mother.

As with much early sculpture, figures would have originally been painted in bright colours although this polychrome decoration, often retouched over time usually has mostly or completely worn away. In addition figures may also have also been subject to the ravages of time and accidental damage with many often becoming detached from their original placings so that today these examples are near impossible to identify whether they depict the deceased or their family members.

For a pair of comparable carved stone 'kneeler' tomb figures dated to the early 17th century and possibly of Cornish origin, see Dreweattts, Newbury, Berkshire, Robert Kime: The Personal Collection (Day 1), Contents from Warwick Square, London, 4th October 2023, lot 278.