Gallery Title
Gallery Title
Norwich snapdragon
Accession Number NWHCM : 2011.239
Description
Processional 'snap' dragon with a painted wooden head with snapping jaw. The body is formed of a painted canvas skin stretched over cylinndrical basketwork frame tapering to tail. There is a hole in centre of body to allow access for the person who carried it in procession. Thin wrought iron tail with loop half way along. This dragon is thought to be a 'Pockthorpe Snap' used in mock-mayor-making ceremonies. The dragon is predominantly dark green, with scales picked out in yellow and a red textile trimmed 'mane' from shoulder to tail.
Read MoreNorwich snapdragon
This processional snap dragon represents a Norwich tradition that dates back to the 14th Century and the Guild of St George.
On St George’s Day (23rd April) a procession of the city guilds would take place. During the procession the guild of St George would be represented by St George, the maiden Margaret and a dragon.
By the late 16th Century, Guild day was merged with the swearing in celebrations for the city’s Mayor. St George and Margaret no longer processed and the dragon took centre stage.
The snap dragon is made of stretched and painted canvas fixed over cylindrical basketwork with a wrought iron tail. The hinged wooden jaws have iron teeth which ‘snap’ when they are opened or closed. A hole in the centre allows the dragon to be carried with the canvas skirt obscuring the operator’s legs. The dragon has been repaired and modified over the years making it difficult to date accurately.