Description
A frontal winged angel with curling hair and an upward-looking face. The figure wears a dark ochre garment with a reddish collar and holds a large quartered heraldic shield. The broad wings retain extensive painted feather decoration.
Heraldry
Provisional blazon: Quarterly, 1 and 4 Argent, three fusils conjoined in fess Gules; 2 and 3 Or, an eagle displayed Vert.
In plain English: The shield is divided into four. The first and fourth quarters show three joined red diamond-shaped figures on a white field. The second and third appear to show a dark eagle with outstretched wings on a gold field. The original colours are now faded and should be treated with caution.
Identification: RCHME: Quarterly (1+4) Argent, three fusils conjoined in fess gules (2+3) Or, an eagle displayed vert (Montacute Earl of Salisbury, quartering Monthermer); Buckeridge: Quarterly 1 and 4 Argent three lozenges conjoined in fess gules a border sable MONTAGU, 2 and 3, Or an eagle displayed vert [MONTHERMER].
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Condition
The carving appears substantially intact, including the head, torso, wings, hands and shield. Extensive painted decoration survives, although the surfaces are worn, chipped and abraded. A pronounced vertical split runs through the torso and shield.