Feminae: Medieval Women and Gender Index



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  • Title: John d'Abernon II
  • Creator:
  • Description: Until recently, this brass was believed to represent the first Sir John d’Abernon and was dated to 1277. It was regarded as the earliest surviving brass in England. However, recent studies have established that the brass dates from the 1320s and hence represents John d’Abernon II, rather than his father. The monument was done in the distinct Camoys London style, recognized for its sleek military design, which aided scholars in properly dating the monument. Its brief inscription reads: “Sir John D’Abernoun, Knight, lies here. God have mercy on his soul.” The d’Abernons, a knightly family, held lands in Surrey since 1086. Sir John II went to court over a dispute with a neighbor who had accused him of appropriating land. Sir John was sued and, after accusing his neighbor of perjury, Sir John was jailed. The monument provides one of the earliest examples of chain mail armor before the switch to plate mail. Sir John’s monument also demonstrates the importance this lesser known gentry family placed on commemorating their kin.
  • Source: Haverford College donated by David and Maxine Cook
  • Rights: Permission of Haverford College
  • Subject (See Also): Brass Rubbings Tomb Effigies
  • Geographic Area: British Isles
  • Century: 14
  • Date: 1325
  • Related Work: Portrait-length brass rubbing of John d'Abernon III, son ofJohn d'Abernon II, in the Haverford College collection: http://ds.haverford.edu/lastingimpressions/assets/Images/new_images/Web_rubbing_images/john_dabernon_1345.jpg
    Full figure brass rubbing of John d'Abernon III in the Haverford College collection: http://ds.haverford.edu/lastingimpressions/assets/Images/new_images/Web_rubbing_images/john_dabernon_1327.jpg
  • Current Location: Haverford College
  • Original Location: Stoke d’Abernon, Surrey, England Saint Mary’s Church
  • Artistic Type (Category): Brass rubbing
  • Artistic Type (Material/Technique): Heelball; Paper
  • Donor:
  • Height/Width/Length(cm): 43.18/160.02/
  • Inscription: Sire: Iohan Daubernoun : Chivaler : Gist : Icy : Dev De: Sa : Alme : Eyt : Mercy. (Sir John D’Abernoun, Knight, lies here. God have mercy on his soul.)
  • Related Resources: Bertram, Jerome, ed. Monumental Brasses as Art and History. Alan Sutton, 1996;
    Brass Rubbings Collection. Hamline University. http://www.hamline.edu/brass-rubbings/ Accessed 2013;
    Sherlock, Peter. Monuments and Memory in Early Modern England. Ashgate, 2008.