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Limewood carving 'Tam must Ride', by Thomas Tweedie

Key details

Object number
3.5009
Date
1860
On display
Yes
Maker
Tweedie, Thomas Hall (Sculptor)

Description

One of a set of four limewood carvings inspired by a line from the poem 'Tam o'Shanter'.

This carving in limewood by Thomas Tweedy, c1860, depicts the scene early in the poem by Robert Burns of Tam o' Shanter, where Tam climbs on to his grey mare Meg in a stormy night on leaving the ale-house in Ayr for his journey home to Maybole".

Tam is shown being assisted onto his horse by his drinking companion Souter Johnie, with the landlady looking on and carrying a lamp to light "that dreary hour Tam mounts his beast in".

These friezes depict the four key scenes in Tam o’ Shanter: the first shows an Ayr alehouse, ‘Boozing at the Nappy’; ‘Tam must ride’ comes next; ‘Witches and warlocks in a dance’ follows; and finally ‘Maggie’s mettle’.

Object information

Acquisition

24 July 1987

Category

Material

Measurements

  • Depth: 12(cm)
  • Height: 32(cm)
  • Width: 48.2(cm)

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