Lot 332
FOUR SCOTTISH CARVED LIMEWOOD TABLEAU SCENES FROM TAM O'SHANTER, WORKSHOP OF THOMAS HALL TWEEDY
CIRCA 1860
Auction: Five Centuries: 16 November 2023 From 10:00
Description
carved in high relief depicting Souter Johnnie and Tam O'Shanter conversing and drinking while the Miller and proprietress look on; Tam drunk outside the tavern preparing to ride into the night; the interior of the haunted church with witches and warlocks dancing while the Devil plays bagpipes and Tam watches at the window; and Tam spurring Meg across the Brig P'Doon as the creatures give chase and the witches pull Meg's tail off; each in a glazed mahogany case
Dimensions
68cm wide, 41cm high, 18cm deep
Footnote
Note: Based in Newcastle, Thomas Hall Tweedy (1816-1892) was a noted woodcarver working in England in the mid-nineteenth century. Tweedy was primarily a business man rather than a craftsman. It is recorded by his apprentice Ralph Hedley that he only saw him hold a tool once when he changed the figure of Miranda from a panel of the "Tempest" into a rock. However, he did have the gift of recognising skilled workmen and giving them employment thus enhancing his considerable reputation. A set of four carved tableaux from 'Tam O'Shanter' attributed to Tweedy are in the collection of the Robert Burns Museum, Ayrshire, and are stylistically very close to this set.