Date: 12th century – 19th century
Material: 12th century – 18th century dolomite and other rock types of unknown origin. 19th century Saaremaa dolomite and limestone
Technique: stone hammer
Restoration: a continuous process since 1981
Riga Cathedral is decorated with several hundred unique specimens of medieval stone carvings, which have survived from the initial period of construction. These are mainly decorative column capitals or consoles made of natural stone, mainly dolomite.
Stone carvings can be found in the Cathedral in the Crossroad gallery, as well as on the eastern façade of the Cathedral.
One of these stone carvings on the eastern façade has been the subject of interpretations for more than a hundred years. From the end of the 19th century until the last quarter of the 20th century, it was considered to be a representation of the local population Livs, emphasizing the role of the local population in the construction of the Cathedral. Later, evaluating the forms of stone carving, the history of the construction of the Cathedral and taking into account the latest trends in the history of art, it was renamed as the Master Builder, whose name has not survived to this day. No matter how the ideology changes the names of the carving, it always have reflected the person who, in honour of God, has donated his work to the construction of the Cathedral.
“So I intend to build a house for the name of the Lord, my God, as the Lord said to David my father: Your son whom I will put upon your throne in your place shall build the house for my name.” (1Kings 5:19).
Photo: RDP archive