Anglo-Saxon Stone Cross Shaft at The British Museum, London

myminifactory

This fragment from the base of a massive, freestanding stone cross is intricately carved with Christian imagery. The swirling vines evoke Christ as the "True Vine", while the archer shooting his arrow may symbolize the spread of God's "Divine World". Raising large stone crosses became popular in parts of Anglo-Saxon England. Typically placed outdoors, sometimes in churchyards, they served as beacons of faith in the landscape, marking places where people could gather to hear Christian preaching. This object is part of "Scan The World", a non-profit initiative introduced by MyMiniFactory. Through this effort, we are creating a digital archive of fully 3D printable sculptures, artworks and landmarks from across the globe for public access at no cost. Scan The World is an open-source community project; if you have interesting items nearby and would like to contribute, email stw@myminifactory.com to learn how you can participate. Scanned using photogrammetry (processed with Agisoft PhotoScan).