Stall Support: Pig Playing the Organ

Stall support: Pig 
Playing the Organ
Beauvais 
or Eastern France (?), 
15th century
Bois
Cl. 22583

This support was the underside of the stall leaf for monks to surreptitiously lean on during services whilst maintaining the appearance of standing straight. The sculpture of these pieces exemplifies the sculptor's verve. They display an acute sense of observation of daily life and a rampant imagination in their clownish scenes, which seemingly are not inspired by religion at all.