Abbey Ruins King Henry I

This one is sold, but I’ll be making another similar very soon. Let me know if you want one.
Abbey Ruins is a collection of “ancient” sculpture and architectural fragments that have been inspired by those
discovered in and around the ruins of Reading Abbey.
Saved stone.
Henricus Primus is part of the ever growing Abbey Ruins series of “finds”. This relief carving is made from salvaged stone and show Henry I holding a model of Reading Abbey. Henry I was buried in Reading Abbey which he founded in 1121.
Size 30 x 15 x 2 cms

Inspiration

Reading Abbey was closed by Henry VIII in 1539, and the entire building fell into ruin thereafter. The stones and artefacts were plundered and have been popping up in excavations and peoples’ gardens ever since. My fascination with all things mediaeval urges me to produce stone carvings that one could easily believe might be another new “find” from the Abbey. They are all hand carved with the same rough and ready feel that the Museum of Reading’s finds exhibit.
More about Reading Abbey here https://www.readingabbeyquarter.org.uk/history-abbey-quarter