Enhanced image
Description
A frontal winged angel with shoulder-length hair and an upward-looking face. The figure wears a brown garment with a reddish collar. Broad wings extend on either side, retaining red, ochre and darker painted feather decoration. The angel holds a large shield divided vertically between two coats of arms.
Heraldry
The shield appears to combine two separate coats, probably by impalement. The left half contains a quartered design with small dark charges and areas of red and pale horizontal banding. The right half is predominantly banded red and pale, with several small dark charges. The surviving paint does not permit a dependable full blazon.
In plain English: Two coats of arms have been placed side by side on one shield, probably representing a marriage or family alliance.
Identification: RCHME: Quarterly (1+4) Argent, a cross engrailed gules between four bougets sable (2+3) Gules, a fess argent, for Bourchier; Buckeridge: Quarterly 1 and 4. Argent a cross engrailed gules, between four water bougets sable BOURCHIER, 2 and 3 Gules a fess argent, between ten billets or, three, two, three, two [LOUVAINE].
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Condition
The carving is substantially intact, including the head, torso, wings, hands and shield. Extensive painted decoration survives. There is a central vertical split through the figure and shield, together with general wear, small losses and abrasion. Some feather tips and the lower edge of the shield are damaged