european iron

Turns out that spirals are to be found everywhere I go, especially iron spirals. I’m beginning to think that there’s nowhere on this planet where I would be bereft of my twirly friends.

My favorite spirals from this trip were from the 11th century, covering a church door in a tiny French village.

Inside the sanctuary were a wooden Madonna and Child from the 13th century, of the kind I’ve only seen at the Metropolitan Museum, and a wooden Jesus on the cross, dressed like a monk and looking oddly friendly. He has been in this same church since the 10th century, with the first written account being from 1130-something when a monk came to see him on pilgrimage. Blows my mind – the longevity of handmade things, and the power of objects.

4 Responses to “european iron”

  1. Ellen Says:

    I want to travel with you sometime!!!! This just makes me yearn to explore.

  2. Julia Says:

    Those scrolls on the church door are marvellous! It must feel like these spirals are following you ….Isn’t it amazing what you can see when you’re LOOKING.

  3. helle Says:

    So, so beautiful. Great to see the scrolls together as a mosaic. I wonder why architecture now is so lacking in ornamentation.

  4. boodely Says:

    Yes, I’ve been wondering about this. And noticing how every building on the old neighborhood blocks have ornamentation, it’s all around us like some unseen language.

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