From antelopes to wyverns, with over fifty species in between, A Bestiary of Brass looks the animals, birds, insects, fish - even shellfish - which have been depicted on medieval memorial brasses in Britain. Some are native, others - such as elephants and panthers - were exotic, while dragons and unicorns were as mythical then as they are today.
At the time they were engraved these creatures evoked a wide range of folklore and legends. This rich symbolism is brought to life by the author. But enigmas remain - why would anyone want to be associated with a fox when they were more noted for cunning and slyness, or a hedgehog, or even a whelk? We also find out about the lives of the people commemorated and share the author's detailed knowledge of their heraldic emblems. Practical advice is provided to help make brass rubbings and to learn more about these memorials.