Kalkstenskonsolerna i Åbo domkyrkas sakristia

Resumé

Limestone consoles in the sacristy of the Turku Cathedral
By Knut Drake

Six limestone consoles, used as decorative elements in the vaults of the present day sacristy of the Turku (Swedish Åbo) Cathedral, originally belonged to the earlier sacristy. The remains of the 7th console are still in situ on the west wall of the sacristy. The 8th console was found detached in the 1920’s. In the earlier sacristy there were four rib vaults supported by a column in the middle of the room. The consoles carried the transverse ribs between the column and the walls. The earlier sacristy formed a part of the grey stone basilica of which construction work began in the end of the 14th century. After the walls of the stone sacristy and choir were finished, building project was interrupted. The rest of the church was built according to a new building plan, turning it into a brick hall church. The sacristy was vaulted using the limestone consoles, but the ribs and the column in the middle were made of moulded bricks.