There are over 100 of these carved figures and faces looking out from the Chapter House walls, women, men, animals both real and imagined. Of all of them the man with the blindfold is the one I always seek out. Why is he wearing it and how did the mason manage to make cold hard stone look so like a piece of cloth?
It can be difficult to know where to look first in York Minster Chapter House. Do you enjoy the stained glass windows, admire the intricately tiled floor (here), photograph that fabulous Gothic domed roof (here)? Maybe you have come in specially to see the pictures currently on show, an exhibition call Liminal Space by Rachael Burnett. Or maybe to see the carvings done by the Master masons between 1270-80 that adorn the walls. For me it is the carvings, come by tomorrow to see one of my favourites.
This is a portion of the centre of the beautiful Minton tiled floor in York Minster Chapter House. The tiling dates from around 1845 with the blue tile showing crossed keys as York Minster is dedicated to St Peter.
More yellow posts here at
This is the medalion at the centre of York Minster Chapter House Ceiling. Built at the end of the 13th century the chapter house roof is a free vault unsupported by any central column. The ceiling was painted by Thomas Williment in 1844-45 with a floral and heraldic moteif. The keys of St Peter appear as the Minster is also St Peter's Cathedral, and the other symbol is probably a representation of Archbishops vestiments. In the centre is the Lamb of God.
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