Carved sandstone head of James Thom, carved by the sculptor
Key details
- Object number
- 3.5022
- Date
- 1800 to 1836
- On display
- Yes
- Maker
- Thom, James Crawford
- Object number
- 3.5022
- Date
- 1800 to 1836
- On display
- Yes
- Maker
- Thom, James Crawford
Description
Carved sandstone head of James Thom.
This sandstone sculpted head of James Thom was created by the sculptor himself, before he departed for America in 1836. It was gifted to the Trustees of Burns Monument by Ayr Town Council in 1972, to accompany the famous statues by Thom of the characters from Tam o' Shanter displayed in the Statue House in Burns Monument Gardens.
James Crawford Thom (1802-1850) born near Tarbolton was a stonemason who was commissioned by David Auld custodian of the Burns Monument in Alloway in 1828 to carve a life sized figure of Tam o' Shanter, having first tried his hand at stone carving at Auld's behest on a Bust of Burns.
Object information
Acquisition
1972
Category
Material
Measurements
- Depth: 29(cm)
- Height: 28(cm)
- Width: 19(cm)
Themes
Caring for collections
A gift of £5 a month can help us ensure collections like the Robert Burns Collection receive ongoing care and are shared with as many people as possible.