Numero oggetto
59/195
Descrizione
This is a wooden tobacco box carved in deep relief on the top and sides with figures from Robert Burns' story of Tom o' Shanter. It has a wooden hinge typical of the type of box made in Scotland.
Descrizione fisica
1 tobacco box: wood
Folklore practices are not reserved solely for rituals and large celebrations but also appear in daily life and stories. Trees, leaves, and twigs inspire spells for health, wealth, love, and luck. [...] The wooden box has been carved to depict the Scottish poem Tam o' Shanter by R. Burns. Tam and his horse Meg are riding through the woods on a stormy night to escape the witches and warlocks who are chasing them. Despite the horror in this poem, it is a celebration of life stating to enjoy the fleeting pleasures. Wooden Box: 59/195
Storico archivio
MERL 'Catalogue index' card – ‘Description: This box, carved from a solid piece of wood, measures 3 1/2” x 6 1/8” x 2” thick. The inside bears traces of the original lead foil lignin. The top and sides of the box are carved in deep relief with figures concerned in Robert Burns’ story of Tam o ‘Shanter. Eva and Edward Pinto comment that this tobacco box is an example of a well-know [sic] type made in Scotland and fitted with the famous Scottish integral wooden hinge. Tam o ‘Shanter, in the words of his wife Kate, was a ‘blethering, blustering, drunk blellum’ who from November to October was drunk on every market day and she prophesied that one day he would be drowned in Door // ‘Or catch’d wi’ warlocks in the mirk By Alloway’s auld haunted Kirk’. // Late one very stormy night, after a particularly riotous market day, Tam o ‘Shanter mounted his grey mare Meg and began his journey home. Horrible experiences befell him on his way and he was chased by witches, one of whom managed to catch up with him and grasp his mare’s tail just as they reached a stream. (‘Witches and evil spirits have no power to follow a poor wight any farther than the middle of the next running stream’). Rather than surrender herself and her master to the fury of the witches, the mare leapt the brook and left her grey tail behind in the witch’s hand. // Tam o ‘Shanter was published in the Edinburgh Edition of Robert Burns’ Poems in 1793.’
Luogo di produzione
Scotland
Nome oggetto
Materiale
Documento esterno
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_2546.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_2547.tif - High resolution image
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_2548.tif - High resolution image
