Brookland church, Kent. A terracotta relief plaque by Jonathan Harmer depicting a basket of flowers and fruit, set into the top of a headstone.
A terracotta relief plaque, depicting a basket of flowers and fruit, set into the top of a headstone. Made by Jonathan Harmer (1762-1849) at Heathfield, Sussex, in the early 19th century and bearing his motto ‘Harmer Fecit’. The reliefs were commonly inserted as ornamental decoration into the top section of a memorial; it was a cheaper way to add carving and decoration to a headstone or masonry than employ a sculptor. He made the reliefs by pressing a local terracotta into moulds. The squeezes were then touched up by hand and baked in a wood oven. His work is in many collections including the Victoria and Albert Museum,, and Sussex Archaeological Society. In Christian and Victorian symbolism the rose means purity, the pomegranate equates to the church, a tulip is a declaration of love, the grape vine a reference to Christ, the pear Christ's love for mankind, a narcissus means triumph of divine love and sacrifice over death, and the daisy represents the innocence of the Christ Child.
Size: 4961px × 3779px
Location: St Augustine's church, Brookland, Romney Marsh, Kent, England, UK
Photo credit: © Jean Williamson / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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