Tomb — effigial in Kilfane Demesne

The lid of an effigial tomb was installed upright against the N wall of the chancel of Kilfane church (KK028-013001-) by the Commissioners of Public Works in 1934-5. It was described by Carrigan (1905, vol. 3, 482-4) as 'a huge uninscribed limestone slab lying within the church...it bears, in high relief, and beautifully sculptured, a cross-legged effigy of a warrior in complete armour, and exhibiting on his shield the Cantwell arms, viz. : gules, a canton ermine, and four annulets or.' Graves (1852-3, 67-9) describes the effigy as follows: 'A suit of mail, without any portion of plate, defends the body, and the head and throat are protected by a chaperon of mail which falls over the hauberk; the chaperon is flattened at [the] top, presenting the appearance of a slightly elevated cone. A long triangular shield, very much curved, and charged in relief with the arms before described is supported on the left side by the shield-strap, passing over the right shoulder, and some acorns with oak leaves are carved in the stone as a support for its point. A surcoat is worn over the hauberk, confined by the sword belt at the waist, and the sword lies under the body, the end appearing between the legs; the right arm (the hand being bare, and the mailed gauntlet hanging by) is extended by the side; and the right leg crossed over the left. The feet are supported by well-carved clusters of oak leaves with acorns, and the spurs are broadly rowelled. The effigy is well sculptured, apparently in Kilkenny marble, the contour of the head and neck is fine, the legs and feet are well formed, and the folds of the surcoat are disposed with considerable elegance; but the shoulders are narrow, the chest flat, and the right arm badly designed.' Graves suggests that the effigy was carved in memory of Thomas de Cantwell, c. 1319. There is a fuller description of the effigy in Hunt (1974, vol. 1, 181-3; vol. 2 fig. 12), who also agrees with Graves' suggested date. However, Stalley (1987, 209-22) presents a convincing argument for an earlier date, suggesting that the effigy was carved in the 13th century, c. 1240-50. Compiled by: Mary Tunney Date of revised upload: 20 September 2017