Description
A carved angel with dark, shoulder-length hair and outstretched feathered wings holds a large pointed shield. Its face retains clearly painted eyes, eyebrows and red lips. The robe is predominantly pale gold, with red and pale grey around the neckline. Both hands grasp the shield’s lower sides. The shield is divided into four quarters: the upper left and lower right show a gold fret on red, while the other two display a red chevron on a pale background patterned with black ermine markings.
Heraldry
Blazon: Quarterly: first and fourth, Gules, a fret Argent; second and third, Ermine, a chevron Gules.
In plain English, the shield is divided into four quarters. The first and fourth have a red ground bearing a white interlaced lattice. The second and third have a white, black-spotted ermine ground bearing a red chevron. The quartered arms are unusually well preserved and their principal tinctures and charges are clearly legible.
Identification: RCHME: Quarterly (1+4) Gules, a fret or (2+3) Ermine, a chevron gules Audley; Buckeridge: Quarterly 1 and 4 AUDLEY, 2 and 3 TOUCHET.
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Condition
The shield’s design remains unusually clear, with most of its colours and heraldic details readily visible. Localised paint loss and abrasion affect the frets, shield edges and lower point, where a dark fixing hole is visible. A conspicuous patch of paint loss exposes wood on the chest immediately above the shield. The face, robe and hands show scattered wear. Both wings retain substantial feather detail, although cracks, chipped edges and small holes are visible, particularly among the lower feathers near the body.