Laon, Notre-Dame
Building Data for Laon, Notre-Dame
- Type: Cathedral
- Affiliation:
- Region: Picardie
- Department: Aisne
- Coords: 49.564, 3.6250
- Surveyed: 1969, 1972-74, 1977, 1980-83, 2011, 2015, 2017
Virtual Tour
| Studies |
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These draft studies have been written as if all carvings were by an individual whereas they can equally be analysed as template modes employed by a number of carvers. The more personal approach was necessitated by the complexity of the data. The drafts will be reconsidered after I have added the rib vault material to the database. |
Capitals for Laon, Notre-Dame
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The building sequence is based on my on-site analysis of the construction history,
using the techniques developed on the cathedral of Chartres called toichology, and described in a number of publications.
The analysis of some of the smaller churches are more approximate than I would like, and need further analysis.
I have used 'phase' rather than 'campaign' to to identify a contiguous zone with similar elements.
A campaign would be defined by recognisable breaks and construction joints in the fabric: there may be a number of phases within a campaign.
One benefit is that separate programs by subcontractors, such as carvers, may be isolated, which is particularly useful in complex sections, such as portals.
Every phase has been assigned to a decade, so there may be more than one phase in a decade.
While this is certainly imperfect, it will allow us to explore all the data, including costs, across time.
This is an on-going process, so as the data continues to be analyzed, the chronology and costing analysis will be further refined, and the synopsis updated.
Clicking on any of the decade graphics will display all buildings that had work being done during that decade.
X
The building sequence is based on my on-site analysis of the construction history, using the techniques developed on the cathedral of Chartres called toichology, and described in a number of publications. The analysis of some of the smaller churches are more approximate than I would like, and need further analysis.
I have used 'phase' rather than 'campaign' to to identify a contiguous zone with similar elements. A campaign would be defined by recognisable breaks and construction joints in the fabric: there may be a number of phases within a campaign. One benefit is that separate programs by subcontractors, such as carvers, may be isolated, which is particularly useful in complex sections, such as portals.
Every phase has been assigned to a decade, so there may be more than one phase in a decade.
While this is certainly imperfect, it will allow us to explore all the data, including costs, across time. This is an on-going process, so as the data continues to be analyzed, the chronology and costing analysis will be further refined, and the synopsis updated.
Clicking on any of the decade graphics will display all buildings that had work being done during that decade.
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Phase 2 - 1150s [1155] - choir dado
Choir dado
Rationale for dating : Dates adjusted after Gamma, Fabrice etc.
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- Unknown - 1150s [1155]
- Laon- Phase 2
- Notre-Dame - choir dado
- No comment set
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- Unknown - 1150s [1155]
- Laon- Phase 2
- Notre-Dame - choir dado
- No comment set
-
- Unknown - 1150s [1155]
- Laon- Phase 2
- Notre-Dame - choir dado
- No comment set
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Phase 3 - 1150s [1157] - choir piers (a)
Choir pier caps and eastern side of transepts, which includes those with curved faces that used to be in the hemicycle and were reused during the extensions twenty years later.
Rationale for dating : [*MCS - Strapper the Intricate and Leonard, s1 and s3]
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- Unknown - 1150s [1157]
- Laon- Phase 3
- Notre-Dame - choir piers (a)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1150s [1157]
- Laon- Phase 3
- Notre-Dame - choir piers (a)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1150s [1157]
- Laon- Phase 3
- Notre-Dame - choir piers (a)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1150s [1157]
- Laon- Phase 3
- Notre-Dame - choir piers (a)
- total uncertainty
-
- Strapper - 1150s [1157]
- Laon- Phase 3
- Notre-Dame - choir piers (a)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 4 - 1150s [1158] - choir walls (a)
Choir wall caps with aisle vaults; many of these capitals have been replaced, but comparison with similar capitals here and elsewhere strongly indicates that they were reasonably faithful copies.
Rationale for dating : [*MCS - Cyprian - Palmier, possibly now the master mason in charge of the works - the Victoire Team]
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- Benoit - 1150s [1158]
- Laon- Phase 4
- Notre-Dame - choir walls (a)
- total uncertainty
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- Fabrice - 1150s [1158]
- Laon- Phase 4
- Notre-Dame - choir walls (a)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1150s [1158]
- Laon- Phase 4
- Notre-Dame - choir walls (a)
- total uncertainty
-
- Auguste - !! - 1150s [1158]
- Laon- Phase 4
- Notre-Dame - choir walls (a)
- Core template
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- Auguste - !! - 1150s [1158]
- Laon- Phase 4
- Notre-Dame - choir walls (a)
- Core template
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Phase 5 - 1160s [1161] - choir (g)
Choir gallery built with a tilt from the south to the north; one of the finest and best-preserved groups of capitals in the north.
Rationale for dating : See analysis MCS #20-25 and discussion of 57 carvers; this date is a foundation for their works elsewhere [*MCS - Recognition rites for Fabrice and Dominique]
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- Abelard - 1160s [1161]
- Laon- Phase 5
- Notre-Dame - choir (g)
- Core template
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- Abelard - 1160s [1161]
- Laon- Phase 5
- Notre-Dame - choir (g)
- Core template
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- Abelard - 1160s [1161]
- Laon- Phase 5
- Notre-Dame - choir (g)
- Core template
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- Abelard - 1160s [1161]
- Laon- Phase 5
- Notre-Dame - choir (g)
- Core template
-
- Abelard - 1160s [1161]
- Laon- Phase 5
- Notre-Dame - choir (g)
- Core template
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Phase 6 - 1160s [1162] - choir (gw)
choir gallery window caps and vault
Rationale for dating : [*MCS - Fabrice - Strapper design]
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- Auguste - !! - 1160s [1162]
- Laon- Phase 6
- Notre-Dame - choir (gw)
- Possibly from core template, very uncertain
-
- Unknown - 1160s [1162]
- Laon- Phase 6
- Notre-Dame - choir (gw)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1160s [1162]
- Laon- Phase 6
- Notre-Dame - choir (gw)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1160s [1162]
- Laon- Phase 6
- Notre-Dame - choir (gw)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1160s [1162]
- Laon- Phase 6
- Notre-Dame - choir (gw)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 7 - 1160s [1163] - choir (t)
Choir and eastern transept triforium with arched lateral supports under the side roof; probable temporary roof at the level of the sills. .
Rationale for dating : [*MCS - Fabrice - Grippleson or later - Lazare - Strapper the Intricate and s1, s3 and s7 for 1166]
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- Unknown - 1160s [1163]
- Laon- Phase 7
- Notre-Dame - choir (t)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1160s [1163]
- Laon- Phase 7
- Notre-Dame - choir (t)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1160s [1163]
- Laon- Phase 7
- Notre-Dame - choir (t)
- total uncertainty
-
- Hugues - 1160s [1163]
- Laon- Phase 7
- Notre-Dame - choir (t)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1160s [1163]
- Laon- Phase 7
- Notre-Dame - choir (t)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 8 - 1160s [1164] - choir (c)
Choir clerestory capitals and window sills; here there is a pause in the works until the decision is made to demolish the circular ambulatory and extend the choir to the east, entailing demolition of the whole of the hemicycle before the extension could be built: much material and sculpture was reused.; same time as south footings and 3 bays to west.
Load More...
Rationale for dating : Changes to design of capitals which are all narural above the sills
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- Unknown - 1160s [1164]
- Laon- Phase 8
- Notre-Dame - choir (c)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1160s [1164]
- Laon- Phase 8
- Notre-Dame - choir (c)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1160s [1164]
- Laon- Phase 8
- Notre-Dame - choir (c)
- total uncertainty
-
- Thierry - 1160s [1164]
- Laon- Phase 8
- Notre-Dame - choir (c)
- total uncertainty
-
- Thierry - 1160s [1164]
- Laon- Phase 8
- Notre-Dame - choir (c)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 9 - 1160s [1166] - choir (cw)
Capitals to a few clerestory windows showing the topmost part of this stage of the work on the choir; I dont think the windows were completed until the extension to the choir had reached the same height on phase 30.
Rationale for dating : [*MCS - Gamma; all formal
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- Unknown - 1160s [1166]
- Laon- Phase 9
- Notre-Dame - choir (cw)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1160s [1166]
- Laon- Phase 9
- Notre-Dame - choir (cw)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1160s [1166]
- Laon- Phase 9
- Notre-Dame - choir (cw)
- total uncertainty
-
- Gamma - !! - 1160s [1166]
- Laon- Phase 9
- Notre-Dame - choir (cw)
- Core template
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- Gamma - !! - 1160s [1166]
- Laon- Phase 9
- Notre-Dame - choir (cw)
- Core template
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Phase 11 - 1160s [1169] - south e (d)
south chapel to capitals and vaults while north encasing walls raised to floor level
Rationale for dating : mostley formal - the Transition "The Ark" 1:150
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- Unknown - 1160s [1169]
- Laon- Phase 11
- Notre-Dame - south e (d)
- total uncertainty
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- Palmleaf - 1160s [1169]
- Laon- Phase 11
- Notre-Dame - south e (d)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1160s [1169]
- Laon- Phase 11
- Notre-Dame - south e (d)
- total uncertainty
-
- Dominique - !! - 1160s [1169]
- Laon- Phase 11
- Notre-Dame - south e (d)
- Core template
-
- Strapper - 1160s [1169]
- Laon- Phase 11
- Notre-Dame - south e (d)
- Core template
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Phase 13 - 1170s [1175] - north e (d)
north dado
Rationale for dating : 50% formals -the Transition "The Ark" 1:157
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- Unknown - 1170s [1175]
- Laon- Phase 13
- Notre-Dame - north e (d)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1170s [1175]
- Laon- Phase 13
- Notre-Dame - north e (d)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 15 - 1170s [1176] - south (a)
south doors and 2 bays on west side, with large 8-part rose in west wall
Rationale for dating : the Transition "The Ark" 1:154 [*MCS - Strapper team s1 and s4]; the Strapper capital was replaced, and the originalis in the south gallery
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- Unknown - 1170s [1176]
- Laon- Phase 15
- Notre-Dame - south (a)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1170s [1176]
- Laon- Phase 15
- Notre-Dame - south (a)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1170s [1176]
- Laon- Phase 15
- Notre-Dame - south (a)
- total uncertainty
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- Theodore - 1170s [1176]
- Laon- Phase 15
- Notre-Dame - south (a)
- total uncertainty
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- Theodore - 1170s [1176]
- Laon- Phase 15
- Notre-Dame - south (a)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 18 - 1170s [1178] - north portal
North entry portal capitals.
Rationale for dating : 25% formals - the Transition "The Ark" 1:160
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- Unknown - 1170s [1178]
- Laon- Phase 18
- Notre-Dame - north portal
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1170s [1178]
- Laon- Phase 18
- Notre-Dame - north portal
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1170s [1178]
- Laon- Phase 18
- Notre-Dame - north portal
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1170s [1178]
- Laon- Phase 18
- Notre-Dame - north portal
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1170s [1178]
- Laon- Phase 18
- Notre-Dame - north portal
- total uncertainty
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Phase 19 - 1170s [1178] - north (a)
North aisle vault in three campaigns from changes to profiles
Rationale for dating : 10% formals [*MCS - Strapper the Intricate for 1175]
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- Dominique - !! - 1170s [1178]
- Laon- Phase 19
- Notre-Dame - north (a)
- Core template
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- Dominique - !! - 1170s [1178]
- Laon- Phase 19
- Notre-Dame - north (a)
- Core template
-
- Unknown - 1170s [1178]
- Laon- Phase 19
- Notre-Dame - north (a)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1170s [1178]
- Laon- Phase 19
- Notre-Dame - north (a)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1170s [1178]
- Laon- Phase 19
- Notre-Dame - north (a)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 20 - 1170s [1178] - south (g)
South west gallery vaults; north gallery wall caps; wall of flat eastern end with internal buttresses.
Rationale for dating : 11% formals - the Transition "The Ark" 1:174
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- Unknown - 1170s [1178]
- Laon- Phase 20
- Notre-Dame - south (g)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1170s [1178]
- Laon- Phase 20
- Notre-Dame - south (g)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1170s [1178]
- Laon- Phase 20
- Notre-Dame - south (g)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1170s [1178]
- Laon- Phase 20
- Notre-Dame - south (g)
- total uncertainty
-
- Strapper - 1170s [1178]
- Laon- Phase 20
- Notre-Dame - south (g)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 22 - 1170s [1179] - nave 4-11(a)
east bays nave gallery and west of south gallery
Rationale for dating :
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- Unknown - 1170s [1179]
- Laon- Phase 22
- Notre-Dame - nave 4-11(a)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1170s [1179]
- Laon- Phase 22
- Notre-Dame - nave 4-11(a)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1170s [1179]
- Laon- Phase 22
- Notre-Dame - nave 4-11(a)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 23 - 1180s [1180] - north (g)
north and two bays to west gallery caps on south side, and four bays on the north
Rationale for dating : 8% formals [*MCS - Strapper the Intricate for 1179]
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- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 23
- Notre-Dame - north (g)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 23
- Notre-Dame - north (g)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 23
- Notre-Dame - north (g)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 23
- Notre-Dame - north (g)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 23
- Notre-Dame - north (g)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 25 - 1180s [1180] - east, west (d)
east and west dado with Bronze corbels over passage through eastern buttresses
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- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 25
- Notre-Dame - east, west (d)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 25
- Notre-Dame - east, west (d)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 25
- Notre-Dame - east, west (d)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 25
- Notre-Dame - east, west (d)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 25
- Notre-Dame - east, west (d)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 27 - 1180s [1182] - east, west (av)
east and west aisle wall caps and aisle vault, drum piers in nave aisles bays 4-11, and to Salle Chapitre to south
Rationale for dating : Applique [*MCS - Strapper design by Leomard for 1179]
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- Unknown - 1180s [1182]
- Laon- Phase 27
- Notre-Dame - east, west (av)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1182]
- Laon- Phase 27
- Notre-Dame - east, west (av)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1182]
- Laon- Phase 27
- Notre-Dame - east, west (av)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1182]
- Laon- Phase 27
- Notre-Dame - east, west (av)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1182]
- Laon- Phase 27
- Notre-Dame - east, west (av)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 28 - 1180s - north (t)
south rose begun; north triforium.
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- Unknown - 1180s []
- Laon- Phase 28
- Notre-Dame - north (t)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s []
- Laon- Phase 28
- Notre-Dame - north (t)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s []
- Laon- Phase 28
- Notre-Dame - north (t)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s []
- Laon- Phase 28
- Notre-Dame - north (t)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s []
- Laon- Phase 28
- Notre-Dame - north (t)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 29 - 1180s [1180] - south (c)
south clerestory windows with external walkway in the Braine manner; north clerestory sills now level with earlier choir on this side.
Rationale for dating : [*MCS - Strapper the Intricate for 1179]
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-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 29
- Notre-Dame - south (c)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 29
- Notre-Dame - south (c)
- total uncertainty
-
- Garp - ! - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 29
- Notre-Dame - south (c)
- Core template
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 29
- Notre-Dame - south (c)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 29
- Notre-Dame - south (c)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 31 - 1180s [1180] - east, west (g)
north rose begun; east and west gallery caps.
Rationale for dating : decadic range "The Ark" 1:389 [*MCS - Strapper the Intricate for 1180]
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- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 31
- Notre-Dame - east, west (g)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 31
- Notre-Dame - east, west (g)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 31
- Notre-Dame - east, west (g)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 31
- Notre-Dame - east, west (g)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 31
- Notre-Dame - east, west (g)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 32 - 1180s [1180] - porch (b)
west porches, dado in west bays and porch bases with same arrangement and similar dimensions to the transept portals at Chartres, which were by Bronze.
Rationale for dating : documents "The Ark" 1:303
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- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 32
- Notre-Dame - porch (b)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 32
- Notre-Dame - porch (b)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 32
- Notre-Dame - porch (b)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 32
- Notre-Dame - porch (b)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1180]
- Laon- Phase 32
- Notre-Dame - porch (b)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 33 - 1180s - north (c,c+,w)
south roof cornice; north clerestory windows; east and west gallery vaults to pier W9
Rationale for dating : [*MCS - Strapper team]
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-
- Unknown - 1180s []
- Laon- Phase 33
- Notre-Dame - north (c,c+,w)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s []
- Laon- Phase 33
- Notre-Dame - north (c,c+,w)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 34 - 1180s [1182] - nave (t,c)
east and nave 1-9 triforium arcade and clerestory capitals.
Rationale for dating : decadic range "The Ark" 1:396 [*MCS - Strapper the Intricate for 1181]
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-
- Unknown - 1180s [1182]
- Laon- Phase 34
- Notre-Dame - nave (t,c)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1182]
- Laon- Phase 34
- Notre-Dame - nave (t,c)
- total uncertainty
-
- Gamma - !! - 1180s [1182]
- Laon- Phase 34
- Notre-Dame - nave (t,c)
- Core template
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1182]
- Laon- Phase 34
- Notre-Dame - nave (t,c)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1182]
- Laon- Phase 34
- Notre-Dame - nave (t,c)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 35 - 1180s [1185] - porch (a)
west portal sculpture, capitals, westmost aisle bays and vaults
Rationale for dating : decadic range in "The Ark" 1:303; when the manner of foliage in the Solomonic columns is compared to the porches at Chartres of 1198 these seem quite a bit earlier;
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-
- Unknown - 1180s [1185]
- Laon- Phase 35
- Notre-Dame - porch (a)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1185]
- Laon- Phase 35
- Notre-Dame - porch (a)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1185]
- Laon- Phase 35
- Notre-Dame - porch (a)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1185]
- Laon- Phase 35
- Notre-Dame - porch (a)
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1180s [1185]
- Laon- Phase 35
- Notre-Dame - porch (a)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 47 - 1220s [1226] - n portal
insert portal into north tower
Rationale for dating : documented date for this door, "The Ark" 2:1162
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-
- Unknown - 1220s [1226]
- Laon- Phase 47
- Notre-Dame - n portal
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1220s [1226]
- Laon- Phase 47
- Notre-Dame - n portal
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1220s [1226]
- Laon- Phase 47
- Notre-Dame - n portal
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1220s [1226]
- Laon- Phase 47
- Notre-Dame - n portal
- total uncertainty
-
- Unknown - 1220s [1226]
- Laon- Phase 47
- Notre-Dame - n portal
- total uncertainty
