Object type
arch
Culture/period
Andalusian culture
Materials
paster, stone, brick
Technique
spatula
Mint
Production date
1031 / 1036
Museum
Museu de la Noguera
Current location
Exposició permanent
Archaeological site
Castell Formós
Township
Balaguer (Europa, Espanya, Catalunya, Lleida, Noguera)
Dimensions
550 x 400 x 480 mm
Description
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Fragment of a polylobed arch with relief decoration on both sides and painted decoration on the intrados of the arch, the lobes and the hanging keystone.
A hanging keystone frustum with four faces and two lobes on either side of the key has been preserved.
Face 1 is divided into two separate sectors by a moulding and a profile formed by two strips with a rectangular section. The lower section has vegetal decoration based on the arabesque formed by a winding main stem of the digitate leaves coming from the unilateral lobe. Face 2 preserves two fragments of semi-circular lobes generated from the faces of a blind keystone.
The intrados of the arch has a band with plant decoration framed by two red lines. The main trunk of the plasterwork has a sinuous path which generates three circular sections finishing with a palm branch and a unilateral lobed leaf with annular beads, and leaves with two lobes or annular elements. The bottom of the decoration was cobalt blue, while the entire drawing is in black, filled both with ochre and red or pink.
The hanging keystone on Face 1 was completely decorated with paint, with a decoration based on friezes of acanthus leaves and simple palmettes, using red, blue and ochre for the background while the drawing is done in black. The painted decoration applied to semi-circular or horseshoe intrados lobes has practically disappeared, leaving only the motif of the drawing in black lines. The plant motif is inscribed within a framework formed by two rectangles. Two S-shaped symmetrical trunks generate a form of inverted heart containing two branches both forming a heart inscribed within the other and terminating in a lobed hanging palmette. The ends of the outer trunks end in a group of three symmetrical plant elements: a sinuous leaf with the first lobe volute-shaped and two flowers with three petals. Finally, the painted decoration on the smooth surfaces was also applied to two mouldings that divide the decorated surface of Face 1. In this case the motif was an epigraphic band that probably reproduced a religious text.
© Museu de la Noguera
Omeka ID
326