Year of the Sheep

  • 'The Dacre Ram', figure

    'The Dacre Ram', figure, England, 1507-1525. Museum no. W.8:1 to 4-2000

    'The Dacre Ram'
    Figure
    England
    1507-1525
    Museum no. W.8:1 to 4-2000

    This figure of a white ram holding a banner, forms part of a group which, together with a bull, griffin and dolphin, are known as the Dacre Beasts. The white ram is the supporter of the de Multon (or 'Mouton', French for sheep and hence the ram) coat of arms, which can be seen here on the banner. The Dacre Beasts are rare survivors of a tradition of heraldic ornament. They represent one of the most powerful families in Northern England and are unique survivors of free standing, large-scale wooden heraldic sculpture from the English Renaissance.

  • Brass dish, Flanders

    Brass dish, Flanders, late 15th to early 16th century. Museum no. M.353-1924

    Brass dish
    Flanders
    Late 15th to early 16th century
    Museum no. M.353-1924

    Lambs have long been used as symbols of sacrifice. The lamb was the sacrificial animal in ancient religious rites, including those of the Hebrews, and was adopted by early Christians as the symbol of Christ in his sacrificial role. From its other attributes, real or imaginary, the lamb has also been associated with innocence, gentleness, patience and humility. This lamb decorates the inside of a brass basin and symbolises the Agnus Dei (Lamb of God). Northern European brass basins dating from the 15th century adopted a form that had been popular since medieval times, with a small diameter and deep sides. The whole of the bottom of the inside of these basins was covered with relief decoration. The subject matter usually fell into one of three categories: scenes from classical antiquity, themes from the Old or New Testaments, or allegorical figures personifying vices and virtues. Such basins stood on buffets in middle-class town houses.

  • 'Annunciation to the Shepherds', stained glass panel

    'Annunciation to the Shepherds', stained glass panel, England, about 1340-1345. Museum no. 2270-1900

    'Annunciation to the Shepherds'
    Stained glass panel
    England
    About 1340-1345
    Museum no. 2270-1900

    The glass roundel depicts the story from the Bible of the annunciation of the birth of Christ to the shepherds. It shows a standing shepherd with a fuller's staff, a seated youth with chanter bagpipe ('chorus'), a sheep with dog and an angel emerging from clouds.

  • 'Sheep and a lamb', limestone relief

    'Sheep and a lamb', limestone relief, England, about 1800-1830. Museum no. A.76-1926

    'Sheep and a lamb'
    Limestone relief
    England
    About 1800-183
    Museum no. A.76-1926

    It is thought that this early 19th-century limestone relief, together with seven other reliefs, originally came from an unidentified house in the City of London that was about to be demolished. Between 1878 and 1916 they were positioned over fireplaces in 1 Lowther Gardens, Princes Gate, London. The original context for this relief and other similar reliefs is unknown.

  • Porcelain figure, Johann Joachim Kandler (modeller)

    Porcelain figure, Johann Joachim Kandler (modeller), Meissen porcelain factory, about 1732. Museum no. C.111-1932

    Porcelain figure
    Johann Joachim Kandler (modeller)
    Meissen porcelain factory
    About 1732
    Museum no. C.111-1932

    Augustus the Strong of Saxony (1670-1733) was a passionate collector of porcelain. He built his ‘Japanese Palace’ in the 1720s to house his vast collection of Far Eastern and Meissen porcelain. This goat is one of nearly 600 life-size animals and birds that he ordered from the Meissen factory for his porcelain menagerie, planned from 1730 onwards. In the event, technical problems and his death in 1733 led to the abandonment of the project before this number had been achieved.

  • Papercut, China

    Papercut, China, 1986. Museum no. FE.62-1992

    Papercut
    China
    1986
    Museum no. FE.62-1992

    This Chinese papercut shows a man herding sheep. The papercut is an example of Chinese folk art. They are traditionally placed in the windows of homes during festivals and the subject matter is chosen to celebrate the festival or to protect the home such as 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.

     

  • Netsuke, Japan

    Netsuke, Japan, late 18th or early 19th century. Museum no. A.64-1915

    Netsuke
    Japan
    Late 18th or early 19th century
    Museum no. A.64-1915

    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 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), a three-dimensional carving, such as this one in the form of a goat. 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.

  • 'The Infant St. John the Baptist', painted pinewood statuette

    'The Infant St. John the Baptist', painted pinewood statuette, circle of Jose Risueno, Spain, about 1700. Museum no. 171-1864

    'The Infant St. John the Baptist'
    Painted pinewood statuette
    Circle of Jose Risueno
    Spain
    About 1700
    Museum no. 171-1864

    This statuette shows the infant St. John the Baptist with a lamb. St. John is often depicted with a lamb symbolising Christ, the son of God. There are many metaphorical references to sheep in the Christian faith. Church of England and Roman Catholic priests hold a shepherd's crook during ceremonies. This symbolises the priest as the shepherd and the 'faithful' are the flock of sheep who need tending.

  • Richard Redgrave, 'Sweet Summertime - Sheep in Wotton Meadows'

    Richard Redgrave, 'Sweet Summertime - Sheep in Wotton Meadows', England, 1869. Museum no. 232-1885

    Richard Redgrave
    'Sweet Summertime - Sheep in Wotton Meadows'
    England
    1869
    Museum no. 232-1885

    This oil painting depicts an idyllic English rural landscape with sheep and a shepherd. It is set on a hazy summers day when even the shepherd appears to have no cares in the world. Sheep are often used to re-enforce the picturesque quality of views of the English countryside.