Winchester Cathedral, Winchester, Hampshire, England

The Intertwined Beasts and Mythical Creatures Wood Carving within Gothic Traceried Paneling at Winchester Cathedral

2149

High Medieval / English Decorated Gothic Period (c. 1308, early 14th century)

An intricate openwork oak architectural sculpture from Winchester Cathedral's choir stalls depicting a scaled feathered-winged dragon locking jaws with a horned mammalian beast, their bodies coiling symmetrically within a perfect circular medallion of Gothic geometric tracery with multi-foiled cusped arches. Carved around 1308 by master carpenter William Lingwode, the piece encloses conflict within geometric order — chaos inscribed and framed within the formal perfection of the Gothic circle.