Carved Misericords of Mythical Beasts on Choir Stall

Soft, overcast light from a late autumn morning washes the dark walnut surface of a cathedral choir stall. The carved misericords rise in relief, depicting mythical beasts with curled horns and textured scales that catch the damp, humid air. A tight close-up reveals the grain of the wood, slightly swollen from recent rain, against the sharp, deep gouges of the chisel. The beasts appear to shift under the gray, diffused glow, their eyes hollowed and dark. Beside the intricate carvings, a metal hinge rests against the heavy timber, cold and unpolished. at the edge is one drop of condensation clinging to the tip of a carved tail.