Malcolm Stoneman

Yes, I love the variety of colours you can get at sunset. 🌅

My photo shows a Roman bronze dragon’s head from a military standard carried by Roman cavalry. The head is elongated with open jaws. The top and bottom jaws are lined with sharp triangular teeth. The top of the snout has diagonal ridges. It has a single round eye socket. The rear of the head and neck is textured with scales. At the top of the head there is a short, jagged, fin-like, upright crest. The bronze surface is weathered with greenish and gold patches. It is mounted on a dark stand in a museum display case.

Roman bronze dragon’s head standard, AD 190-260.

Originally mounted on a pole, with a long fabric tube attached to the back of the head. When charging on horseback, the wind inflated the tube and the dragon shrieked!

Niederbieber fort. Landesmuseum Koblenz. 📷 me

#RomanFortThursday
#Archaeology

Outline of trees against an orange & light blue sky at sunset.

#Sunset #Cloudscape

#DownhamMarket #Norfolk

acquired after a military engagement?

Supposedly there was peace, with no declaration of war before/during the Armada campaign. But there had been various examples of “military/naval skirmishes”.

Also, not all English supported the Queen. Many Catholics did not, quite a few were in Spain.

Well ……. there is much to think about!

Yes, I agree the stamping with the ‘IZ’ is to signify new ownership. How much defacing there was because it was English - I’m not sure.

It is surprising how much international trade was taking place between belligerents. However, I do wonder whether it was ….

Yes, I’m with you there.
I really like the dark purple, almost black variety.

Red rose

👀 Coffee time ☕️☕️🌺 -
#Denver #Norfolk

Rose with Denver church as backdrop
- 📷 17.11.2025

#elevensestime

There was widespread international trade in such a luxury item in The Sixteenth Century. Acquired by a Spanish sailor or soldier.

The stamped crowned rose & initials ‘ER’ have been overstamped by ‘IZ’.

Pewter plate. 16th C.

With touch mark of English pewterer, Nicholas Collier - crowned rose & initials 'ER'.

New Spanish owner stamped out the touch marks with their initials ‘IZ’.

Found Spanish Armada shipwreck
- La Trinidad Valencera.

Now #UlsterMuseum #Belfast

Not really #IronworkThursday

🤔😄

Well enjoy your walk & perhaps a chance for a morning ☕️.

Oh, we don’t blame you.
It has turned a bit chill here. Possibly similar temperature to Crieff tomorrow, although you are forecast far more 🌞

Yes, agreed.
An interesting thought ……. a Christmas pyramid. 🤔 I hadn’t thought of it that way.

It simply fell out of fashioned & was replaced by a plainer example in 1979.

Agreed. 😄
The photo was taken a few days ago, but it is nice to post on a chilly 🥶 day like today.

An interesting thread 🧵 about local (Devon) history, in particular wills, but also male/female names.
@roaringmeg.bsky.social

Snow on a Munro. Photo taken this morning by @jackhjohnston.bsky.social

What a beautiful photo by Jack. 👏👏👏

Oh dear ……. tileless. 😔

Good luck 🍀 with your search.

I’ll look forward to any future discoveries & photos. 😄

It is interesting seeing the different symbolism - in this case the hand gestures with the holding of the Lilly & the flame (of the Holy Spirit?).

Reposting for #Redwed.

Thanks @poetrader.bsky.social 😄

Yes, it is great - providing a real splash of colour at the moment.
Thanks for the Redwed tip. 😄

Yes, it would be good to see the font & cover (of 1850) together again. The present cover is from 1979 - described by Pevsner as “not much more than a lid!”. 🤷‍♂️

Agreed, the window tracery looks good.

Red dahlia

👀 Coffee time ☕️☕️🌺 -
#DownhamMarket #Norfolk

Dahlia - 📷 09.11.2025

#elevensestime

Welcome.

Perhaps you might have some photos of tiles you might post? 🤷‍♂️

If not, enjoy the others.

Church of St Mary, #Ware, #Hertfordshire

A #gothic font cover of 1850. Preserved, but no longer used.

Made by by Philip, Wynne & Lumsden. Whose business was located at 30, East Street, Manchester Square, London in 1851.

#Woodensday
#WoodcarvingWednesday

Chancellor Rolin by Rogier van der Weyden - a rounded aged face with dark hair. A “pudding basin” haircut. Brown cloak & collar.

A set of red & cream floor tiles

Yes, you certainly feel that you might have passed someone with such a face recently, they are so realistic. However, I’m not sure about the hairstyle. 😉

It is interesting to see a similar Rolin in the Beaune altarpiece - #RogiervanderWeyden of c.1443 - 1451.

The tiles are in the former hospital.

Chancellor Rolin in pray with a city & mountains viewed through the arcading behind him.

Thank you.
Likewise, the Madonna of Chancellor Rolin is a favourite painting.
I felt so privileged to be able to see it last year in a special exhibition in The Louvre, Paris.
Jan van Eyck’s attention to detail is astonishing, whether Rolin’s robe, the column capitals, the peacocks or the townscape.

Red cyclamen

👀 Coffee time ☕️☕️🌺 -
#Ely #Cambridgeshire

Cyclamen - 📷 Today

Late for #elevensestime

A tile with oak leaves which entwine a “n” & a “g”.

Hôtel-Dieu #Beaune #France

Floor tiles with ‘n & g’ for Nicolas Rolin & his wife Guigone de Salins. The oak tree represents strength & loyalty.

The hospital had been funded in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, Chancellor of the Duke of Burgundy & Guigone de Salins.

#TilesOnTuesday

Agreed. Quite stunning.

Yes, I love to read the small print in captions. Particularly to see where a painting or object has come from.

Carter had connections with the local Norfolk town of Swaffham.