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The Bishop’s pastoral staff at Salisbury Cathedral is a work of ultrafine craftsmanship. It has a special significance being carved by great grandfather, John Edward Taylerson, in 1908 as an ecclesiastical commission. Official history claims it was made in Egypt, probably because it was carved in solid ivory, now environmentally incorrect, but then exotic. Fables aside it was actually produced in Battersea in a tin shed down the garden!
Carving in ivory is stressful enough because a tiny slip of the chisel heralds disaster with no salvation. Elephants deserved faith in the sculptor because they were not dispensable even then.

2 comments add one below

  • avatar

    Neville Hunt over 6 years ago

    Very interesting. True story it seems? You clearly come from quality stock Steve, and maybe it explains your religious connections in your previous drabble! :-)

  • avatar

    Steve McBrevity over 6 years ago

    Yes it’s true. My own research debunked the theory that the staff was carved in Egypt much to the chagrin of the warden I liaised with.

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