The Cathedral Urn, a photo from Norfolk, England

Photographer's Note

Good Morning Everyone,

I will complete my photographic record of The Catholic Cathedral at Norwich with a few interesting close-ups.

This is the Cathedral Urn, situated in a lovely garden behind the cathedral. There was a large descriptive plaque nearby which gave some information about the urn.

It was gifted to the Cathedral by Bishop Alan Hopes, from his own private collection.

Although the urn was badly damaged, it was removed and skilfully restored over several years at the Febrigg Forge.

The history of the urn is undocumented, the only information available that it was created between 1904 and 1906 by a very artistic plumber.

It was not cast but worked from the inside out by a process known as repousse, using a very new product called High Alumina Cement! This material hardens very quickly so one can only imagine the time it must have taken to produce such a huge, intricate work.

The animals represented are a European Ibex and a Mouflon sheep, with curly horns, which originated in Iran, one of the two ancestors of the modern sheep breeds.

The bottom of the urn is decorated with a wide variety of flowers, fruits and foliage, along with many insects.

It was eventually installed in 2016.

I chose this as the main post as it was just a bit unusual.

I hope you will look at the workshops, relating to the cathedral, too.

Have a good weekend, Bev :-)

holmertz, pierrefonds, ikeharel, jhm, pajaran, clic, jean113, Fis2, COSTANTINO, papagolf21, PaulVDV, ricardomattos has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

holmertz (102732) 2020-10-03 4:11

Hello Bev,
The workshops are nice and give us additional information about the cathedral, but they are the kind of photos we expect to see from a place like this. The main photo is absolutely more original and even more interesting. It is a nice work of art and very cleverly made, not least considering the special technique you describe. But I wonder how many urns or other odd items the Bishop may have had in his private collection.
You placed it nicely in the photo, slightly to the side and surrounded by the roses.
Kind regards,
Gert

pierrefonds (114494) 2020-10-03 5:06

Hi Bev,

The flowers are framing well the urn. The point of view is showing the details of the Cathedral Urn. It is clear and sharp. Have a nice day.

Pierre

ikeharel (113385) 2020-10-03 5:24

Indeed unusual item, Beverley.
decorated with horns and other elements and placed within lovely white roses flowers-bush's.
I wonder what if rain water filled it, than what...
All three pictures enable the sights of the Cathedral surroundings.
Wish you a nice weekend,
Ike

Silvio1953 (221659) 2020-10-03 5:31

Ciao cara Bev, great closeup, lovely composition with beautiful flowers, fine details, wonderful colors, excellent clarity and splendid light, very well done, my friend, have a good weekend, ciao Silvio

jhm (211736) 2020-10-03 6:23

Hello Bev,

The big urn are a nice presentation with the head of the mouflon sheep.
You chose an excellent angle with nice green atmosphere.
The small fountain are a nice addition, together with the white roses.
Very well composition, TFS.

Lovely regards,
John

pajaran (115941) 2020-10-03 6:48

Greeting.
Beautiful ibex head and flowers, well shown with beautiful colors, contrast and good text.
Nice photos in the workshop.
Beautiful old Cathedral.
I wish you a nice afternoon, all the best.
Paja.

clic (76) 2020-10-03 7:37

Hello Beverly
I heard once about embossed leather but never of the specific technique you wrote about to create this beautiful vase masterly captured amongst roses.
Thanks for the informative note.
Cheers

dedee (3093) 2020-10-03 8:18

Hi Bev
A lovely urn and very well shot framed by the roses. And thanks for the description.

jean113 (27887) 2020-10-03 11:29

Hello Beverley, a special piece with beautiful decoration; the ibex takes pride of place with the horns of the Mouflon sheep to each side.
Looking at the surrounding rose bushes, it looks to me as if it was quite difficult to see the reverse sides of the urn.
Interesting information.
The picture looks great in the large version.
Kind regards, Jean.

jmdias (115208) 2020-10-03 12:36

bev

wow! a real big and nice piece of art, not usual with these heads of animals. I liked the inclusion of the roses and the general aspect of the compo.

take care

jorge

mkamionka (74481) 2020-10-03 12:50

Hi Bev,
nice decoration of the garden. In fact I was in a garden centre today. We did consider what we can improve in the garden, but we were rather focused on the trees.
A vase like that would be adding a nice touch I suppose.You have captured it nicely with the roses framing it on both sides. And in the workshop we can admire two more views of the cathedral.
Beautiful place, pity that it is so faraway :(
M

Fis2 (170807) 2020-10-03 14:03

Witaj Bev!
Beautiful garden, the cathedral urn is impressive.
Excellent POV, composition and sharpness.
I like it.
Nice sunday.
Krzysztof

lousat (139298) 2020-10-03 14:40

Hi Bev,in fact the choice of main pic is curious and brave too,the 2 WS are most spectacular,but i agree with your choice after to read the interesting note about the urn and its decorations. Another new page of your precious report from Norwich cathedral,well done as usual. Have a nice Sunday and thanks,Luciano

ifege (48135) 2020-10-03 20:37

Hi Bev
Good series from Norwich. The main photo has an unusually designed urn and is well framed by the shrubs.
Cheers
Ian

COSTANTINO (116542) 2020-10-03 22:18

Hello dear friend and have a nice day
and a happy Sunday........
original version
like this piece of art
into the garden and its useful
notes about...
welldone
regards
Costantino

vjmite (6586) 2020-10-03 22:42

Hi Bev,

It's a very interesting urn, and well spotted by you, as it seems to be hidden among the rose bushes. Nevertheless it looks quite at home surrounded by rose flowers. A pity the sky was cloudy, making the light a bit flat and the sky very bright. But you've done well under the conditions.

Vince

jemaflor (147184) 2020-10-03 23:35

Hi Bev,
interesting close-up well managed, perfect sharpness, good effect with water, nice vegetation for the garden all around with these flowers, well presented, tfs.

papagolf21 (152607) 2020-10-04 0:07

Bonjour, ch鑢e Bev,
Excellent choix de prise de vue, un objet d'art qui m閞ite une place particuli鑢e eu 間ard � son travail sp閏ifique, qui demande un savoir-faire exceptionnel.
Un grand merci pour les photos pr閟ent閑s en annexe.
Amiti閟.
Philippe

PaulVDV (62944) 2020-10-04 1:59

Hello Beverley,
While the front of the cathedral is not easy to photograph in the busy city, there seems to be sufficient space at the rear.
We find beautiful additional photos of the catholic Norwich Cathedral in the WS.
I admit I've never heard of a cathedral urn. I wonder if more (even all) cathedrals do have an urn ...
It looks like a beautiful work of art, masterfully portrayed with the surrounding plants and flowers.
At first I thought the urn was colossal, but thanks to the roses on both sides it's possible to estimate its size realistically.
Nicely done with the fountain that sprays above it.
Something tells me that this could be a garden where you can take more beautiful pictures.
The clarity and sharpness of this one here are absolutely flawless.
Best regards, Paul

ricardomattos (17460) 2020-10-04 8:46

Hi Bev

Very atractive pictures and notes about this Cathedral. Yes, this is very unique. I like a lot.

Warm regards

Ricardo

Miguel82 (47110) 2020-10-07 12:41

Beverley, that urn is a nice decorative item in the cathedral garden. It contains a small waterjet. An ibex is indeed sculpted on its side. The yellow flowers prettify the photo. Fine colors, good sharpness, regards.