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Limewood carving 'Witches and Warlocks in a Dance' by Thomas Tweedie

Key details

Object number
3.5010
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 by Thomas H. Tweedy, c1860, depicts the central scene in the poem by Robert Burns of Tam o' Shanter, where Tam reaches Kirk Alloway and is stopped in his tracks to watch, in the ruins, a dance of witches.

Tam is shown peering through a window of the Kirk "amaz'd and curious" while the core of witches and warlocks conduct their dance. Auld Nick is shown seated in the window playing the pipes.

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: 14(cm)
  • Height: 33.4(cm)
  • Width: 71(cm)

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