Description
Book SynopsisIn 1970 a concrete replica of the St John’s Cross arrived in Iona sitting incongruously on the deck of a puffer delivering the island’s annual supply of coal. What is the story behind this intriguing replica? How does it relate to the world’s first ringed ‘Celtic cross’, an artistic and technical masterpiece, which has been at the heart of the Iona experience since the eighth century? What does it tell us about the authenticity and value of replicas?
In this fascinating book, Foster and Jones draw on extensive interdisciplinary research to reveal the composite biography of the St John’s Cross, its concrete replica, and its many other scale copies. They show that replicas can acquire rich forms of authenticity and value, informed by social relations, craft practices, creativity, place and materiality. Thus, the book challenges traditional precepts that seek authenticity in qualities intrinsic to original historic objects. Replicas are shown to be important objects in their own right, with their own creative, human histories - biographies that people can connect with. The story of the St John’s Cross celebrates how replicas can ‘work’ for us if we let them, particularly if clues are available about their makers’ passion, creativity and craft.
Trade Review...promotes a much deeper understanding of replicas' important role in object biographies, contemporary place-making and identities. Furthermore, it is a nice example of community archaeology which will be of interest to both archaeologists and heritage specialists. * Medieval Archaeology *
The results of the ethnographic study, in particular, reveal fascinating insights into how attitudes to, and experience of, objects can be affected by the knowledge that they are replicas, and then reshaped by a fuller understanding of the research and thoughtful processes involved in constructing the replica. This makes it a useful case study for reflecting on the many replicas of monuments and artefacts around the world. As well as detailing the biography of an important monument, this excellent volume challenges ideas about authenticity and value in the presentation and interpretation of heritage. * Antiquity *
I really can’t say how much I enjoyed your wonderful book. I’ve already told my colleagues in my Team that it’s required reading because it will change people’s perspective, not just on replicas of course, but on community engagement, conservation, preservation of ruins, and restoration. * Historic Environment Scotland *
…a very densely packed, many-facetted, thought-provoking book. It is well worth taking time to read and ponder over. * Pictish Arts Society *
The book is well-served by its integral appendices, bibliography and index and online by extensive 3-D imagery on Sketchfab. It makes a great addition to the libraries of all early medieval sculpture enthusiasts and Ionaphiles. * Archaeology Scotland Magazine *
...certainly an addition to our knowledge of what has been written previously about Iona, and there are also many fine photographs… * Folklore Society *
The authors have done great service not simply to Iona, its people and those who admire the island, but to the global community of those who strive to achieve the best outcome for the built heritage. * Innes Review *
The publication's carefully considered discussions are a complemented by a selection of wonderful images, offering a rich visual journey that places the Cross in the context of the local landscape and community, as well as within wider discussions about the place of sculptures and replicas. * Current Archaeology *
Table of ContentsAcknowledgements Preface Introduction The concrete and non-concrete (SF) I. Crafting lives 1.Life as a replica (SF & SJ) Replication and authenticity Analogue replicas still matter The St John’s Cross and its copies matter The lives and voices of replicas Capturing lives: things, texts, images and people Piecing it all together 2. Loving Iona (SF & SJ) Island of crosses Multiple communities A ‘thick’ place 3. ‘Priceless monuments’ (SF) Early antiquarian interest New stewards, new horizons ‘History versus Mystery; Science and Art versus Faith’ Island voices Dead or alive? II. Creating and cultivating the cross 4. Formation and reformation (SF) Salvation, wounds and resurrection Fragmentation Antiquarian rebirth, earliest copies Silent witness The Fallen Cross 1. Birth of the concrete replica: ‘I can’t think of anything more worthwhile doing’ (SF) A slow conception Fertile possibilities ‘Miraculous success’: an ‘authentic prototype’ for an ‘authentic replica’ Erecting the replica in situ For the love of Iona Material matters, first impressions Celebrating the ‘virtually impossible’ MacLeod and the St John’s Cross New life, new values 6. From out of the shadows (SF) Transformer Reunited Place in the world The Iona brand 7. Glorious revelation: contemporary significance, values and authenticity (SF & SJ) ‘Loaded objects’: meanings and relationships Place and space Material evidence of ‘pastness’ ‘Glorious revelation’ III. Celebration in concrete, celebration of concrete 8. New life, new thinking (SF & SJ) Rethinking authenticity and value Heritage implications Creating knowledge and understanding Understanding social value and authenticity Securing for the future Engaging and experiencing New lives, new stories Appendices Appendix 1: Surviving physical remains of the St John’s Cross, its 1:1 replicas and their production Appendix 2: Archival sources Appendix 3: Breakdown of ethnographic sources Bibliography Index
