TABERNACLE, a species of niche or recess in which an image may be placed. In Norman work there are but few remains, and these generally over doorways. They are shallow and comparatively plain, and the figures are often only in low relief, and not detached statues. In Early English work they are deeper, and instead of simple arches there is often a canopy over the figure, which was placed on a small low pedestal. Later in the style the heads of the tabernacles became cusped,either as trefoils or cinquefoils, and they are often placed in pairs, sido by side, or in ranges, as at Wells Cathedral. Decorated tabernacles are still deeper and more ornamented, the heads are sometimes richly cusped and surmounted with crocketed gables, as at York, or with projecting canopies, very much like the arcade at Lichfield. In this case the under side of the canopy is carved to imitate groin ribs, and the figures stand either on high pedestals, or ou corbels. Perpendicular tabernacles possess much the same features, but the work is generally more elaborate ; the figures generally stand on rich pedestals, but sometimes on corbels, and the canopies generally prsject, sometimes in a triangular form, and sometimes. with a sort of domical top. (See CORBEL, CANOPY, NicitE, &c.) The word tabernacle is also often used for the receptacle for relics, which was often made in the form of a small house or church. (See SII RINE. )