This grand carved wooden overmantel was salvaged in the early years of the 20th century from 32, Carr Street in Ipswich and is now on display in the Christchurch Mansion Museum. It has four large figures representing the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity (the three theological virtues) along with ‘Prudence’, one of the four Cardinal Virtues (with Justice, Fortitude and Temperance). These female personifications are identified through the objects that they hold (their attributes). The ability to read these objects and correctly identify the nature of these allegorical figures was an essential part of the visual literacy of sixteenth and seventeenth century England. The Virtues were an ancient iconography that would have been familiar in late medieval church art. They continued to be depicted across the visual arts of early modern England, in tapestry and painted cloth, in print and in interior decoration.<br /> <br /> Here, viewers would know that the cross is the attribute of faith, the anchor represents Hope and that Charity nurses an infant. The mirror and snake held by Prudence, meanwhile, may be surprising to a modern audience given their association with vanity, and sin/the devil. In early modern understanding, however, the snake could symbolise wisdom and the mirror shows self-knowledge; taken together and in the context of the other Virtues the meaning of these symbols is clear. The Virtues were commonly depicted in large-scale domestic decoration where they represented the character and qualities of the upper middling householder; they would have been readily understood as such by all visitors to the house regardless of their ability to read or write.
Carved Overmantel (Overmantel), c. 16th/17th century

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Carved Overmantel

Carved Overmantel (Overmantel), c. 16th/17th century

This grand carved wooden overmantel was salvaged in the early years of the 20th century from 32, Carr Street in Ipswich and is now on display in the Christchurch Mansion Museum. It has four large figures representing the virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity (the three theological virtues) along with ‘Prudence’, one of the four Cardinal Virtues (with Justice, Fortitude and Temperance). These female personifications are identified through the objects that they hold (their attributes). The ability to read these objects and correctly identify the nature of these allegorical figures was an essential part of the visual literacy of sixteenth and seventeenth century England. The Virtues were an ancient iconography that would have been familiar in late medieval church art. They continued to be depicted across the visual arts of early modern England, in tapestry and painted cloth, in print and in interior decoration.

Here, viewers would know that the cross is the attribute of faith, the anchor represents Hope and that Charity nurses an infant. The mirror and snake held by Prudence, meanwhile, may be surprising to a modern audience given their association with vanity, and sin/the devil. In early modern understanding, however, the snake could symbolise wisdom and the mirror shows self-knowledge; taken together and in the context of the other Virtues the meaning of these symbols is clear. The Virtues were commonly depicted in large-scale domestic decoration where they represented the character and qualities of the upper middling householder; they would have been readily understood as such by all visitors to the house regardless of their ability to read or write.

Object Type Overmantel
Year c. 16th/17th century
Material Wood
Discovered Suffolk
Owned By Christchurch Mansion Museum, Ipswich, Suffolk
Keywords home, domestic, carved wood, chimneypiece, overmantel, Virtues, allegory, personification, literacy, images, iconography.
Image Credit Overmantel, Christchurch Mansion Museum, Ipswich, Suffolk. Personal photograph.

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