x.x.x.x | Message modified by user Nellie January 12, 2013, 2:40 pm
Oh dear: the chores for today just went out the window as the books come down from shelves.
There is a brief reference to the Cosmati floor, in a book entitled Westminster Abbey by Edward Carpenter and David Gentleman.
"A spectacular adornment to the Abbey was the Cosmati floor given by Abbot Ware in 1268, named after the famous Cosmati family which worked with mosaics in Rome during the thirteenth century. Throughout the Sanctuary and St Edward's Chapel 'the most highly wrought Cosmati pavement ever erected' was installed. Cosmati work consists of coloured pieces of stone arranged in intriguing and intricate patterns. The tragedy is that this example of superb craftsmanship has now permanently to be kept under a carpet because of the disastrous use of a soft English Purbeck for the interlacing bands instead of a harder marble from the Continent."
That was published in 1987 so how wonderful to know the floor has been restored.
Footnote for Charles' visit to the Abbey:
The book says "Henry VII spared no expense and ransacked Europe to beautify and give distinction to his Chapel. It contains an embarrasment of riches. The statuettes, which are many, are perfectly executed. One wears spectacles and one lady sports a beard."
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