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GB ARCHON 2913 MIS-04-1 · Item · March 2009
Part of Miscellaneous Deposits

Article text:
"The final stage of the enclosure of the sanctuary has taken place with the hanging of the dossals on the riddle posts installed last year.
"The bright red colour with gold metallic thread has been designed to blend with the overall hue of the East window behind them.
"The purpose of enclosing the sanctuary was to ensure the focus of the cathedral congregation would be on the new high altar and the service that take place there.
"The project was funded by the Friends of the Roman Catholic Cathedral of East Anglia. The group's secretary Pat Walter said: 'Our architect, Russell Taylor, had to work within a specific brief that met the requirements of Bishop Michael [Evans], the Historic Churches Committee and English Heritage.
"Fourteen blue and gold riddle posts were made in the workshops of Henderson and Ledfern. Each is 4m high and is made from yellow poplar, also known as tulip wood.
"The blue and gold design was extensively used in medieval times.
"Each of the riddle posts is surmounted with an angel playing a diffeerent musical instrument.
"The angels are moulded in plaster, cast in resin and finished in gold leaf.
"Their instruments were in common usage in medieval times. Eleven of these musicians are already depicted inside the cathedral or are part of the angelic orchestra which alternates with apostles around the arch of the Great West door,' she said.
"Three angelic musicians with triangle, shawm and double pipe can be seen in other religious foundations of the Middle Ages.
"The dossal fabric is 127cm wide with a matt satin finish, 81% cotton, 9% gold metallic thread and 10% rayon.
"The dossals have a drop of 3.65m with cotton interlining to give them extra body so they hang well from steel rods with golden ropes."

Image caption "The dossals around the sanctuary blending with Advent decoration at the cathedral"

Byrne, Patrick