Overview

In 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.

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9781911188599

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Reviews

...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 * 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 * ...a very densely packed, many-facetted, thought-provoking book. It is well worth taking time to read and ponder over. * Pictish Arts Society *

...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 *

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 * ...a very densely packed, many-facetted, thought-provoking book. It is well worth taking time to read and ponder over. * Pictish Arts Society * 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 * 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 *

Author Information

Sally Foster is Senior Lecturer in Heritage and Conservation at the University of Stirling and former Principal Inspector of Ancient Monuments at Historic Scotland. Past publications include the bestseller Picts, Gaels and Scots and A Fragmented Masterpiece: Recovering the Biography of the Hilton of Cadboll Pictish Cross-Slab. Replicas, carved stones, the early church, authenticity, value, materiality, biography and landscape are dominant themes in her interdisciplinary research. Sian Jones is Professor of Environmental History and Heritage at the University of Stirling. She is an interdisciplinary scholar with expertise in cultural heritage, as well as the role of the past in the production of power, identity and sense of place. Sian has published widely on conservation, authenticity, social value and community heritage. Her books include The Archaeology of Ethnicity and A Fragmented Masterpiece.

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