Design
Usually carved into stone or sometimes wood, they can be very detailed, with usually only the initials of the married couple, the date of the marriage and sometimes the Coat of arms of the two families, just those of the husband and very rarely the combined coats of arms of both families. In some cases the adornment was religious in nature, such as at 'The Hill' farm mansion house (see photograph) or an artistic design simply placed there as an ornamentation. The designs are found cut into the stone or standing proud of the rock face. Originally some of these stones would have been brightly painted and adorned with gilt.
Marriage Stones
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A Marriage stone above the door to the Formal Gardens at Robertland House, East Ayrshire. Circa 1930.
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The 'Marriage Stone' lintel at 'The Hill' farm, Dunlop, East Ayrshire.
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A view of the 'Marriage stone' lintel positioned over the entrance to 'The Hill' farm mansion house together with the motto "Delights and Adorns" and a Bible held in a hand dexter held upright, suggesting both northern Ireland and Protestantism.
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A Marriage stone set into the old Sawmill near Aiket Castle. The faded markings have been enhanced.
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1811 Marriage stone from the old Nettlehirst Mains Farm near Barrmill, North Ayrshire.
Read more about this topic: Marriage Stone
Famous quotes containing the word design:
“For I choose that my remembrances of him should be pleasing, affecting, religious. I will love him as a glorified friend, after the free way of friendship, and not pay him a stiff sign of respect, as men do to those whom they fear. A passage read from his discourses, a moving provocation to works like his, any act or meeting which tends to awaken a pure thought, a flow of love, an original design of virtue, I call a worthy, a true commemoration.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“We find that Good and Evil happen alike to all Men on this Side of the Grave; and as the principle Design of Tragedy is to raise Commiseration and Terror in the Minds of the Audience, we shall defeat this great End, if we always make Virtue and Innocence happy and successful.”
—Joseph Addison (1672–1719)
“Teaching is the perpetual end and office of all things. Teaching, instruction is the main design that shines through the sky and earth.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)