Photographer's Note
Hello Everyone,
Yesterday, I posted a photograph of a robin, taken through my conservatory window. In the photograph was a small detail of a finial ridge tile in the shape of a gargoyle.
Gert was fascinated by this and for him, I promised to post a photograph of another one that we have, a much better one in the form of a dragon.
Finials take many forms and feature a wide range of different designs, figures and sculptures. Finials have been used all over the World from medieval times most notably in China and more recently the UK. The Romans were also known to have decorated their roofs with ornamental features because fragments have turned up in archaeological digs.
Gothic roof finials typically include ornamental figures such as roof dragons, gargoyles, wyverns, grotesques and other mythical creatures. These gothic roof finials feature some stunning and decorative designs and aside from anything else, decorate the roof and are said to ward off evil spirits, deter witches on broomsticks or in the case of roof dragons to provide good luck
Dragon finials and Gothic finials in the UK started appearing in the 1870’s and possibly before that. The gothic style was influenced by Chinese architecture.
We bought the two finials from an auction, not to put on our roof but to display in the garden as decorative features.
When the grandchildren, or friends' children, come round, they love to examine the dragon. We can make up some wonderful stories about how the dragon came to our garden and how he protects us!! 😉
I will add further photographs as workshops.
I hope this all makes sense to you as I know some words don't translate very well from the English.
Keep safe, wherever you are, Bev :-)
jhm, ikeharel, holmertz, tyro, Fis2, jean113, jemaflor, alvaraalto, alvaraalto έχουν(ει) επιλέξει αυτή τη σημείωση ως χρήσιμη
Critiques | Translate
ikeharel
(105953) 2020-04-18 6:32
Hi Beverley,
You have some strange visitors to your garden... children must be fascinated with the stories about them.
Three photos of this subject, each is beautiful by its own way.
Must say all are a fine craftsmanship with clay.
Wish you a nice weekend,
Ike
holmertz
(92898) 2020-04-18 7:02
Hello Bev,
Thank you for this almost personal service. ;-) I actually had to look up the word 'finial', because it's not part of my daily vocabulary. So was this dragon originally placed on top of a roof (which Wikipedia suggests), and did it not serve any clearly practical purpose? Some time ago I posted a photo of the ruins of a Roman temple in Lebanon, where lions' heads had been used as gargoyles at the edge of the roof to divert water, so it wouldn't trickle down the wall. This dragon wasn't used for the same reason, wasn't it?
In any case it's a fascinating little sculpture so it's no surprise that the children like them.
Kind regards,
Gert
tyro
(30513) 2020-04-18 7:43
Hello Bev,
What fascinating items these are! I presume they are "ridge tiles", perhaps designed to be placed at the apex of a roof at a gable end. They would look very nice in such position but they also look equally nice in your garden, especially if they can hide amongst the flowers and suddenly scare the unwary!
Do you know if these are very old or are they of fairly recent manufacture? Anyway, three delightful photographs and an interesting note to boot.
Excellent!
Kind Regards,
John.
Tue
(82306) 2020-04-18 8:21
Hello Beverley,
Excellent close-up photo of this sculpture of the dragon in your garden. I like its rusty colours in front of the green leaves and the spring flowers, which make a very good addition to the composition as well.
Lars
Fis2
(155699) 2020-04-18 9:35
Witaj Bev!
A very nice element of garden decoration.
Gargoyle is impressive.
Good framing and colors.
Nice sunday, keep save.
Krzysztof
jean113
(22077) 2020-04-18 11:17
Hello Beverley, three excellent pictures of your own personal dragon!
I had heard the word 'finial' before but wasn't sure what it meant, so now I know.
It is certainly a change from the average garden gnome!
Thanks for sharing, regards Jean.
jmdias
(102982) 2020-04-18 11:57
bev
I liked these three images. the dragon is very beautiful and found a more natural space in the garden than in the roof top. nice details. is this an antiquity or a modern piece?
take care
jorge
Miguel82
(47108) 2020-04-18 12:22
Beverley, this sculpture represents a dragon and decorates very well the garden. It draws the visitors' attention and goes with the flowers. That mythic animal is associated with many legends. Fine colors, good sharpness, absorbing photo note, regards.
emka
(152314) 2020-04-18 13:58
Hello Bev, I have just learned something new - the meaning of the word finial. I have seen many such objects but had no idea how they are called. and this one is very beautiful. I would call it gargoyle. I used to have such flowers but they are gone, sometimes it happens. I love Dicentra - crying hearts, this year they disappeared.
Stay safe
MAlgo
ifege
(32361) 2020-04-18 21:06
Hi Bev
Good photo of the dragon and good architectural history lesson.
cheers
Ian
Nicou
(193806) 2020-04-18 22:00
Hello
vous avez des dragon dans votre jardin attention ou alors c'est pour allumer le feu il vient cracher des flamme dans la cuisine quelle vue superbe dιcoration et statue quel petit dragon avec des deux ailes sur le dos superbe
Bravo et belle journιe
Nicou
jemaflor
(135484) 2020-04-18 23:29
Hi Bev,
good photo and Ws about this strange animal, well presented with photo and note, good colors contrast, perfect sharpness, tfs.
lousat
(130033) 2020-04-19 2:23
Hi Bev,I have carefully read your notes, because the patron of my village is San Giorgio, who has become famous for the legend of the killing of the dragon. But I see that you have dealt with different subjects. The dragon in your garden reminds me very much of some statues on the roof of Notre Dame. 3 perfect photos from different angles for a complete report.Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano
alvaraalto
(42318) 2020-04-19 2:55
Hello Bev,
It is good to see how well you are protected by these dragons.
We could use some protection at the moment and I think this dragon likes some viruses next to a snake so you are safe here.
I have to manage my protection with a flock of geese, which are not even very photogenic.
Be careful and stay safe, Rob
kasianowak
(15848) 2020-04-19 5:08
I love dragon stories, I'm a bit like a child when it comes to mythical creatures. I was scared of them when I was kid, then I grew up but the fasciation remained intact. :-)
Lovely photo, this kind of even lighting really suits the subject as we can see all the wonderful details.
I was smiling when reading the note to your last post about the same bird species (dunnock, sparrow and robin) that visit my garden and now I can see that we also have the same flowers! :-)
Have a lovely Sunday afternoon.
Kasia
jhm
(203085) 2020-04-19 5:36
Hello Bev,
Yesterday I had no smileys.
The dragon has much legends played a big roles .
This is a very nice image.
Nice picture with green and flowers.
Sharpness and clarity are superb.
Very well done, TFS.
Have a nice Sunday,
John.
everlasting
(17692) 2020-04-19 11:55
I also was wondering about the gargoyle in the robin photo and now to see him in his glory. What great idea to buy him for the garden. I have a few odds and ends mostly collected on our travels ins our garden but I would love to get my hands on something like this.
ChrisJ
(160104) 2020-04-21 19:26
Hello Bev,
The snake and the dragons claw on it are reminiscent of a cat toying with its prey. Good sharpness and an excellent closeup. Tfs!
Photo Information
-
Copyright: Beverley Robinson (Royaldevon)
(75510)
- Genre: Τοποθεσίες
- Medium: Έγχρωμο
- Date Taken: 2020-04-15
- Camera: Canon PowerShot G12
- Έκθεση: f/0.1, 1/21 δευτερόλεπτα
- Έκδοση φωτογραφίας: Πρωτότυπη έκδοση, Workshop
- Θέμα(τα): More views around Trawden [view contributor(s)]
- Date Submitted: 2020-04-18 6:21
Discussions
- To holmertz: Finials (1)
by Royaldevon, last updated 2020-04-18 07:10