H18 W39cm. Glazed stoneware
The pair of free-standing mourning swans on the tomb of Hugh and Margaret Courtenay, Exeter Cathedral, combines the images of the dying swan and the Christian martyr. The heraldic collars and chains add to the feeling of being shackled together for life. These two swans are unshackled, free to go their separate ways, but show their commitment to their partnership by their interlocking necks.