Posted 4 years ago
vintagelamp
(1097 items)
Scenes from the 1790 Robert Burns' poem Tam O' Shanter featuring an amazing relief on the top lid of the box of Tam O'Shanter being pursued by the witches.
Sorceresses are falling out of a raining stormy sky full of lightening alongside a haunted church (Auld Kirk Alloway), chasing after Tam O'Shanter who is riding his horse ragged to escape, looking back as if the devil himself is on his heels! The one sorceress has pulled the tail off of his horse with Tam O'Shanter narrowly escaping. The front of the box features Tam telling his harrowing tale in a tavern!
This is nearly the same scene from the small bronze plate I posted previously. Tinder boxes are numerous with all different prices, but I have yet to find another with these scenes.
DIMENSIONS: WIDTH: 18" TALL: 12" DEEP: 11-1/2"
Beautifully detailed box and fascinating legend
Newfld,
Many thanks!
This is a great box! Lol!!! I was wondering what the character was holding in the first pic...it certainly did not look like a horse tail!!! Nice to see you again too ;)
shareurpassion,
Perhaps that is why Tam's voice was a couple octaves higher upon reaching the tavern (?)
My parents got one as a wedding present in 1952, so the model is 70+ years. Yes the exact box you posted. We filled it with newspaper, nut shells, fir cones, twigs and splinters.
Latterly, it held my mother’s knitting pins and wool. At one time it stored fat phone books. I rubbed my hands down the pleasing ripples on the sides while sitting on it to tie my shoelaces.
Ornamental furniture talks. Firebacks were often ironcast with scenes to serve as conversation pieces. Why not more of the fire surround, as here?
The value of the box is greater for those who notice the detail. The craftsman’s inspiration to ornament this kindling box just so is perhaps suggested by Tam sitting at the cheerful fireside of the tavern, ‘planted… by an ingle, bleezing finely.’ The two friezes are the opening and ending of the drama. Opening on the front: Tam having a convivial craic with Souter Johnie, the landlord and landlady. Looking closely we see Tam’s mischievous eye turned on his hostess who leans forward to indulge the old rogue, ‘The landlady and Tam grew gracious/Wi' secret favours, sweet, and precious’. Ending on the lid: Tam making away at full gallop after stumbling into the coven. The bogles and hags almost catch Tam as he crosses the bridge. Ghouls cannot cross running water (good to know if you're out this Halloween). Tam's gray mare, Meg, loses her tail in the affray.
Fine interlaced border of thistles, the flower that gave away the invading Danes who trampled up bens and down glens hoping to silently surprise the Scots by going barefoot. Their mistake.