Plaque with the Head of Saint John the Baptist on a Charger

Art Historical Context

This striking alabaster plaque from 15th-century England captures the severed head of Saint John the Baptist resting on a, or platter—a vivid reference to the biblical story of his martyrdom. Created by the School Nottingham, a renowned workshop of alabaster carvers, the piece reflects the widespread popularity of such devotional sculptures in late medieval Britain. Alabaster’s smooth, luminous surface made it ideal for detailed religious imagery, and traces of original paint and gilding would have heightened its dramatic effect for worshippers. Nottingham alabasters were produced in large numbers and exported across Europe, serving as affordable alternatives to more costly materials like ivory or precious metals. These compact plaques often formed parts of larger altarpieces or were displayed independently in churches and homes, fostering personal piety. The work’s modest scale—roughly eight inches tall—highlights how such objects brought sacred narratives into everyday medieval life. As a product of British medieval sculpture, this plaque exemplifies the era’s blend of storytelling and craftsmanship. Its survival offers today’s visitors a tangible connection to the vibrant religious culture of 15th-century England.

About the Artist

School of Nottingham

**School of Nottingham** The School of Nottingham, a prolific workshop tradition of alabaster carvers based in Nottingham and surrounding Midlands areas like South Derbyshire, flourished from the fourteenth to the early sixteenth century, with its peak in the fifteenth. Quarrying soft gypsum alabaster locally, these anonymous image-makers—known as alabastermen, kervers, or marblers—produced thous...