Year of the Pig

  • 'Vasya Vajravarahi', sculpture

    'Vasya Vajravarahi', sculpture, Tibet, 16th century. Museum no. IM.197-1937

    'Vasya Vajravarahi'
    Sculpture
    Tibet
    16th century
    Museum no. IM.197-1937

    The Buddhist goddess Vasya Vajravarahi ('Diamond Sow') represents wisdom and emptiness. Her symbol, the boar's head emerging from her skull, represents the delusion of ignorance that must be overcome in tantric practice. Her name signifies the Varahi or female aspect of the boar manifestation of Vishnu, Varaha, of Vajrayana Buddhism. She is a form of dakini, goddesses who 'walk in the sky', and ultimately represents inner space. Such figures are used to inspire, instruct and initiate human practitioners.

  • Boar, earthenware figure

    Boar, earthenware figure, Hannong's pottery factory (manufacturer), France, about 1748-1754. Museum no. C.212-1951

    Boar
    Earthenware figure
    Hannong's pottery factory (manufacturer)
    France
    About 1748-1754
    Museum no. C.212-1951

    Wild boar are recorded throughout history. To the ancient Greeks the wild boar was considered destructive and ferocious and so they were hunted by heroes who could show off their bravery by killing the boar. The Romans also hunted wild boar, but are also believed to have tamed them and kept them for their exotic meat, dished up on special occasions. Today colonies of boars still thrive in the wild across central Europe, Asia and South America. They are still considered dangerous, known for causing damage to woodlands and for killing other animals. They are now hunted using rifles and occasionally dogs and their meat is still a delicacy. The wild breed has a thick bristly coat and can be distinguished from the domestic breed by its longer legs and narrower head and snout.

  • The Florentine boar, bronze statuette

    The Florentine boar, bronze statuette, associated with Antonio Susini, Italy, 1600-1700. Museum no. A.153-1910

    The Florentine boar
    Bronze statuette
    Associated with Antonio Susini
    Italy
    1600-1700
    Museum no. A.153-1910

    The original Florentine boar was carved from marble some time during the centuries BC by a Greek sculptor. The original Boar was said to have been excavated with other figures which together made up a hunting scene, depicting the Calydonian Boar killed by Meleager. In the late 16th century, the Boar was displayed alongside two dogs and a figure of a man in the throes of attacking it.

  • Pig, papercut

    Pig, papercut, China, 1985. Museum no. FE.170-1992

    Pig
    Papercut
    China
    1985
    Museum no. FE.170-1992

    This Chinese papercut shows a pig. The papercut is an example of Chinese folk art. They are traditionally placed in the windows of homes during festivals. Many are made from red paper and the subject matter is chosen to celebrate the festival, as well as lucky or prosperous symbols or imagery for warding off evil spirits. The designs are often intricate and the forms are rarely realistic, but instead an artist's interpretation of a particular folk tale or religious story. The Chinese New Year is one of the festivals for which papercuts are created and the animal representing the new year is often included in the designs.

  • Edward Lear, 'The letter P'

    Edward Lear, 'The letter P', one of 26 drawings from 'A Children's Nonsense Alphabet', England, about 1880. Museum no. E.868-1951

    Edward Lear
    'The letter P'
    One of 26 drawings from 'A Children's Nonsense Alphabet',
    England,
    About 1880
    Museum no. E.868-1951

    This is one of 26 drawings from 'A Children's Nonsense Alphabet', showing four different styles upper and lower case and copperplate, with the drawing of a pig. There is a poem below the drawing which says: 'P was a pig, With a tail so curly, Sometimes he was good, And sometimes surly.'

  • 'Meleager and the Calydonian Boar', bronze relief

    'Meleager and the Calydonian Boar', bronze relief, probably by Jacob Cornelisz Cobaert, after a design by Guglielmo della Porta, 1590-1610. Museum no. A.15-1952

    'Meleager and the Calydonian Boar'
    Bronze relief
    Probably by Jacob Cornelisz Cobaert, after a design by Guglielmo della Porta
    1590-1610
    Museum no. A.15-1952

    The hunting of the Calydonian boar was one of the most famous episodes of Greek heroic legend. The giant boar was sent by an angry Diana to destroy the land of the King of Calydon. Atalanta, the huntress, was the first to injure the boar, which was finally killed by Meleager. Meleager awarded the hide of the boar to Atalanta, whom he loved, but this angered the other hunters, including Meleager's uncles, and a fatal fight ensued. Meleager's demise was soon after. At his birth the Fates (the spirits that decided upon a man's destiny), had decreed that he should not die until a log of wood burning in the hearth had been consumed. His mother had snatched it from the flames to save Meleager, but on hearing of the killing of her brothers, had thrown it back into the fire and he perished.

  • Clockwork toy pig, Manufactured in either Germany or France

    Clockwork toy pig, Manufactured in either Germany or France, about 1890. Museum no. MISC.28-1967

    Clockwork toy pig
    Manufactured in either Germany or France
    About 1890
    Museum no. MISC.28-1967

    This clockwork pig and rider are interesting examples of the type of toy which was very popular in the late Victorian era. Toys like these were made in large numbers, usually in Germany for export to Europe and America. Being small they were easy to despatch and attracted smaller import and export duties than did the larger toys.

  • Netsuke, Japan

    Netsuke, Japan, 19th century. Museum no. A.942-1910, A.943-1910

    Netsuke
    Japan
    19th century
    Museum no. A.942-1910, A.943-1910

    The netsuke is a toggle. Japanese men used netsuke to suspend various pouches and containers from their sashes by a silk cord. Netsuke had to be small and not too heavy, yet bulky enough to do the job. They needed to be compact with no sharp protruding edges, yet also strong and hard-wearing. Above all, they had to have the means for attaching a cord. Netsuke were made in a variety of forms, the most widely appreciated being the katabori (shape carving), such as these ones in the form of wild boars asleep on maple leaves. A netsuke portraying an animal from the East Asian zodiac was particularly associated with the New Year festivities of the appropriate year, but could also be used at any time during that particular year, and again 12 years later in accordance with the cycle.

  • Netsuke, Toyomasa

    Netsuke, Toyomasa, Japan, about 1800-1850. Museum no. A.53-1915

    Netsuke,
    Toyomasa
    Japan
    About 1800-1850
    Museum no. A.53-1915

    The netsuke is a toggle. Japanese men used netsuke to suspend various pouches and containers from their sashes by a silk cord. Netsuke had to be small and not too heavy, yet bulky enough to do the job. They needed to be compact with no sharp protruding edges, yet also strong and hardwearing. Above all they had to have the means of attaching the cord. Although netsuke were made in a variety of forms, the most widely appreciated is the katabori (shape carving). This is a three-dimensional carving, such as this one, which portrays a wild boar running at full gallop. Most of the leading woodblock-printed books included illustrations that could be copied directly or adapted as netsuke. This provided craftsmen with an enormous range of subject-matter. This netsuke closely resembles a page from the Ehon shaho bukuro (Bag of sketching treasures). This book was illustrated by Tachibana Morikuni and published in 1720. Both the illustration and the netsuke show the boar running with all four legs outstretched. This is how people thought animals ran before photographs captured their movements accurately. From the late 1700s onwards, many more makers signed their netsuke. This one is signed Toyomasa. It was probably made by Naito Toyomasa (1773-1856), who was largely responsible for the fame of netsuke in Tanba province.

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