Sens, Saint-Étienne
Building Data for Sens, Saint-Étienne
- Type: Cathedral
- Affiliation:
- Region: Bourgogne
- Department: Yonne
- Coords: 48.198, 3.2841
- Surveyed: 1972-74, 1980-83, 2003, 2015
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 Sens, Saint-Étienne
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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 - 1130s [1134] - choir (d)
Choir and north chapel dado capitals; the building of the transept has eliminated the evidence for how far this stage of the work was continued to the west; and very wide windows around the ambulatory.
Rationale for dating : Analysed in "The Ark" 5:1543
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- Complexitus - 1130s [1134]
- Sens- Phase 2
- Saint-Étienne - choir (d)
- Core template
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- Jerome - !! - 1130s [1134]
- Sens- Phase 2
- Saint-Étienne - choir (d)
- Core template
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- Fabrice - ! - 1130s [1134]
- Sens- Phase 2
- Saint-Étienne - choir (d)
- Core template
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- Unknown - 1130s [1134]
- Sens- Phase 2
- Saint-Étienne - choir (d)
- total uncertainty
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- DukeSon - !! - 1130s [1134]
- Sens- Phase 2
- Saint-Étienne - choir (d)
- Core template
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Phase 3 - 1130s [1136] - choir piers (a)
Ambulatory pier capitals from the fifth pier from the crossing around the ambulatory; in the fifth pier on the north only those capitals that would support doubleau and arcade arches were carved, those to the west were in the next tranche; this included formeret and doubleau arches, and the heads of the windows; designed for groin vaults, for the lowest stone for the groin still exists to the side of the doubleau capital alongside the axial chapel.
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- Pecker II - ! - 1130s [1136]
- Sens- Phase 3
- Saint-Étienne - choir piers (a)
- Second template, seems to be same designer
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- Jeremy - !! - 1130s [1136]
- Sens- Phase 3
- Saint-Étienne - choir piers (a)
- Possibly from core template, very uncertain
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- Jeremy - !! - 1130s [1136]
- Sens- Phase 3
- Saint-Étienne - choir piers (a)
- Possibly from core template, very uncertain
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- Umbrella - !! - 1130s [1136]
- Sens- Phase 3
- Saint-Étienne - choir piers (a)
- Variation of master's core template, possibly with an associate
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- Unknown - 1130s [1136]
- Sens- Phase 3
- Saint-Étienne - choir piers (a)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 4 - 1130s [1137] - choir walls (a)
ambulatory walls, capitals and north chapel, over very wide windows; on the north the wall was extended to include the north chapel and presumably also in the south; there are some 40 courses in these walls from plinth to capitals that on average would take 5-8 years to complete.
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Rationale for dating : Following Chartres the thicker walls took longer to erect than the slender columns, which is why i have separated these capitals into two groups. Date suits Etienne in Etampres
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- Ouvert - ! - 1130s [1137]
- Sens- Phase 4
- Saint-Étienne - choir walls (a)
- Core template
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- Jerome - ! - 1130s [1137]
- Sens- Phase 4
- Saint-Étienne - choir walls (a)
- Second template, seems to be same designer
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- Jerome - !! - 1130s [1137]
- Sens- Phase 4
- Saint-Étienne - choir walls (a)
- Core template
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- Jerome - ! - 1130s [1137]
- Sens- Phase 4
- Saint-Étienne - choir walls (a)
- Core template, details suggest another carver
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- Unknown - 1130s [1137]
- Sens- Phase 4
- Saint-Étienne - choir walls (a)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 6 - 1150s [1155] - w nave (d)
nave dado probably in more than one campaign
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- Unknown - 1150s [1155]
- Sens- Phase 6
- Saint-Étienne - w nave (d)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1150s [1155]
- Sens- Phase 6
- Saint-Étienne - w nave (d)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1150s [1155]
- Sens- Phase 6
- Saint-Étienne - w nave (d)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1150s [1155]
- Sens- Phase 6
- Saint-Étienne - w nave (d)
- total uncertainty
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- Dowager - ? - 1150s [1155]
- Sens- Phase 6
- Saint-Étienne - w nave (d)
- Possibly from core template, very uncertain
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Phase 7 - 1150s [1158] - choir (a) 1-4
the four choir piers from today's crossing to the east; from the style of the capitals continued into the nave to piers 6; once the aisle vaults were completed this huge undertaking would be sufficient to support all future stages in the gallery and clerestory.
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- Jeremy - !! - 1150s [1158]
- Sens- Phase 7
- Saint-Étienne - choir (a) 1-4
- Core template
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- Jeremy - !! - 1150s [1158]
- Sens- Phase 7
- Saint-Étienne - choir (a) 1-4
- Variation of master's core template, possibly with an associate
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- Unknown - 1150s [1158]
- Sens- Phase 7
- Saint-Étienne - choir (a) 1-4
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1150s [1158]
- Sens- Phase 7
- Saint-Étienne - choir (a) 1-4
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1150s [1158]
- Sens- Phase 7
- Saint-Étienne - choir (a) 1-4
- total uncertainty
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Phase 8 - 1150s [1158] - nave (a) 1-6
From the style of the capitals the same crew working in the choir continued into the nave to pier 6, leaving only the piers under the towers to be finished later; ten piers (plus one in the centre transept).
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- Ouvert - ? - 1150s [1158]
- Sens- Phase 8
- Saint-Étienne - nave (a) 1-6
- Variation of master's core template, possibly with an associate
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- LongLeaf - !! - 1150s [1158]
- Sens- Phase 8
- Saint-Étienne - nave (a) 1-6
- Second template, seems to be same designer
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- Unknown - 1150s [1158]
- Sens- Phase 8
- Saint-Étienne - nave (a) 1-6
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1150s [1158]
- Sens- Phase 8
- Saint-Étienne - nave (a) 1-6
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1150s [1158]
- Sens- Phase 8
- Saint-Étienne - nave (a) 1-6
- total uncertainty
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Phase 9 - 1160s - east (av)
the continuation of corbels to support the aisle ribs from the ambulatory to the doubleau of the 6th pier west of the crossing shows the extent of the work when it was decided to use rib vaults; that the smaller corbels of this phase sit over the capitals of both Phases 1 and 2 of the southern choir aisle capitals shows how far the works had proceeded before this decision was made; the corbels in the choir are smaller than those in the nave and have an additional larger course between it and the rib.
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- Unknown - 1160s []
- Sens- Phase 9
- Saint-Étienne - east (av)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s []
- Sens- Phase 9
- Saint-Étienne - east (av)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s []
- Sens- Phase 9
- Saint-Étienne - east (av)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s []
- Sens- Phase 9
- Saint-Étienne - east (av)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s []
- Sens- Phase 9
- Saint-Étienne - east (av)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 10 - 1160s - west (av)
the corbels in the nave to the doubleau of the 6th pier; these sit over the capitals of Phase 2; in the west side of the 6th aisle pier the style of the formeret capital and the corbels show this to have been part of the later works in the west; whatever had been constructed on the south wall was replaced after the collapse.
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- Unknown - 1160s []
- Sens- Phase 10
- Saint-Étienne - west (av)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s []
- Sens- Phase 10
- Saint-Étienne - west (av)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s []
- Sens- Phase 10
- Saint-Étienne - west (av)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s []
- Sens- Phase 10
- Saint-Étienne - west (av)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s []
- Sens- Phase 10
- Saint-Étienne - west (av)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 12 - 1160s [1160] - choir (g,c) 1-7
Choir gallery capitals, arches and wall over.
Rationale for dating : [*MCS - Jeremy - Jerome template - Lazare for 1155 - Longleaf]
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- Unknown - 1160s [1160]
- Sens- Phase 12
- Saint-Étienne - choir (g,c) 1-7
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s [1160]
- Sens- Phase 12
- Saint-Étienne - choir (g,c) 1-7
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s [1160]
- Sens- Phase 12
- Saint-Étienne - choir (g,c) 1-7
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s [1160]
- Sens- Phase 12
- Saint-Étienne - choir (g,c) 1-7
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s [1160]
- Sens- Phase 12
- Saint-Étienne - choir (g,c) 1-7
- total uncertainty
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Phase 13 - 1160s [1162] - choir (c)
Choir clerestory wall, windows and capitals
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- LongLeaf - !! - 1160s [1162]
- Sens- Phase 13
- Saint-Étienne - choir (c)
- Second template, seems to be same designer
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- Apple III - !! - 1160s [1162]
- Sens- Phase 13
- Saint-Étienne - choir (c)
- Variation of master's core template, possibly with an associate
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- Unknown - 1160s [1162]
- Sens- Phase 13
- Saint-Étienne - choir (c)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s [1162]
- Sens- Phase 13
- Saint-Étienne - choir (c)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s [1162]
- Sens- Phase 13
- Saint-Étienne - choir (c)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 14 - 1160s [1165] - flyers 1-7
Install the first flyers 1-7 and roof in place immediately afterwards.
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- Fretter - !! - 1160s [1165]
- Sens- Phase 14
- Saint-Étienne - flyers 1-7
- total uncertainty
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- Fretter - !! - 1160s [1165]
- Sens- Phase 14
- Saint-Étienne - flyers 1-7
- Core template
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- Fretter - !! - 1160s [1165]
- Sens- Phase 14
- Saint-Étienne - flyers 1-7
- Core template
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- Unknown - 1160s [1165]
- Sens- Phase 14
- Saint-Étienne - flyers 1-7
- total uncertainty
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- Vertical - !! - 1160s [1165]
- Sens- Phase 14
- Saint-Étienne - flyers 1-7
- Core template
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Phase 16 - 1160s [1167] - choir (rc)
Roof cornice with details like those in Canterbury by William of Sens; the roof over the as-yet-unvaulted would have been erected at this time. Some decades later when they came to insert the high vaults over the choir all the clerestory windows around the cathedral were enlarged with bar tracery.
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Rationale for dating : Analysed in "The Ark" 5:1605. These datails and the cornice could have been at the same time as the middle gallery on the south side and this would have delayed the completion of the choir until the 70s; as the bosses of the high vaults are more in the character of the pre-70s transformation I would leave this campaign where it is and if William was involved, then it would have been in an earlier appearance on the site.
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- Unknown - 1160s [1167]
- Sens- Phase 16
- Saint-Étienne - choir (rc)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s [1167]
- Sens- Phase 16
- Saint-Étienne - choir (rc)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s [1167]
- Sens- Phase 16
- Saint-Étienne - choir (rc)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s [1167]
- Sens- Phase 16
- Saint-Étienne - choir (rc)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1160s [1167]
- Sens- Phase 16
- Saint-Étienne - choir (rc)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 18 - 1170s [1172] - nave 3-7 (g,c)
Mid-nave gallery and some under the external flyers (as illustrated); these capitals also have connections to William's work at Canterbury, especially the forms of the imposts.
Rationale for dating : The Transition "The Ark" 1:263 possibly by William of Sens from imposts 1172± before Canterbury, or from the decadic modes a master who worked with William and then came to Sens in the later 70s.
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- Unknown - 1170s [1172]
- Sens- Phase 18
- Saint-Étienne - nave 3-7 (g,c)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1170s [1172]
- Sens- Phase 18
- Saint-Étienne - nave 3-7 (g,c)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1170s [1172]
- Sens- Phase 18
- Saint-Étienne - nave 3-7 (g,c)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1170s [1172]
- Sens- Phase 18
- Saint-Étienne - nave 3-7 (g,c)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1170s [1172]
- Sens- Phase 18
- Saint-Étienne - nave 3-7 (g,c)
- total uncertainty
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Phase 20 - 1170s [1175] - nave (a) 13-14
Western nave aisle capitals
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- Unknown - 1170s [1175]
- Sens- Phase 20
- Saint-Étienne - nave (a) 13-14
- total uncertainty
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- Applique - 1170s [1175]
- Sens- Phase 20
- Saint-Étienne - nave (a) 13-14
- total uncertainty
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- Tongue - !! - 1170s [1175]
- Sens- Phase 20
- Saint-Étienne - nave (a) 13-14
- Core template
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- Unknown - 1170s [1175]
- Sens- Phase 20
- Saint-Étienne - nave (a) 13-14
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1170s [1175]
- Sens- Phase 20
- Saint-Étienne - nave (a) 13-14
- total uncertainty
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Phase 23 - 1180s [1187] - north portal
Probably after the fire of 1184; as portal joints mismatched probably carved in shed before it was needed.
Rationale for dating : After the fire of 1184, "The Ark" 1:314; not necessarily carved in a separate operation to the middle portal as different teams could have been involved at the same time.
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- Unknown - 1180s [1187]
- Sens- Phase 23
- Saint-Étienne - north portal
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1180s [1187]
- Sens- Phase 23
- Saint-Étienne - north portal
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1180s [1187]
- Sens- Phase 23
- Saint-Étienne - north portal
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1180s [1187]
- Sens- Phase 23
- Saint-Étienne - north portal
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1180s [1187]
- Sens- Phase 23
- Saint-Étienne - north portal
- total uncertainty
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Phase 24 - 1180s - mid portal
Middle portal, with details that are very different to the north suggesting (as with Paris, Notre-Dame) that they were carved by different teams and possibly at different times.
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- Unknown - 1180s []
- Sens- Phase 24
- Saint-Étienne - mid portal
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1180s []
- Sens- Phase 24
- Saint-Étienne - mid portal
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1180s []
- Sens- Phase 24
- Saint-Étienne - mid portal
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1180s []
- Sens- Phase 24
- Saint-Étienne - mid portal
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1180s []
- Sens- Phase 24
- Saint-Étienne - mid portal
- total uncertainty
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Phase 27 - 1200s - w nave (c)
West clerestory,
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- Unknown - 1200s []
- Sens- Phase 27
- Saint-Étienne - w nave (c)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1200s []
- Sens- Phase 27
- Saint-Étienne - w nave (c)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1200s []
- Sens- Phase 27
- Saint-Étienne - w nave (c)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1200s []
- Sens- Phase 27
- Saint-Étienne - w nave (c)
- total uncertainty
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- Unknown - 1200s []
- Sens- Phase 27
- Saint-Étienne - w nave (c)
- total uncertainty
