Brass Founders' Pillar
{{Use British English|date=October 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox monument|name=Brass Founders' Pillar|image=Colonne Brassfounders Édimbourg 2.jpg|caption=Brass Founders' Pillar (2018)|location=Nicolson Square, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom|designer=James Gowans
John Stevenson Rhind (statue)|dedicated=1886|dedicated_to=Brassfounders|material=Bronze
Granite (base)}}
The Brass Founders' Pillar, also known as the Brassfounders Column, is a monumental column in Edinburgh, Scotland.
History
The column was designed by James Gowans as the showpiece for the Brassfounders' Guild of Edinburgh and Leith for the International Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art, a world's fair held in Edinburgh in 1886.{{Cite book|last1=Gillon|first1=Jack|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=e-sgCwAAQBAJ&dq=brassfounders%27+column&pg=PT127|title=Monumental Edinburgh|last2=McAuley|first2=Paul|publisher=Amberley Publishing|year=2015|isbn=978-1-4456-5008-1|language=en|via=Google Books}} The statue at the top of the statue depicts Tubal-cain and was designed by John Stevenson Rhind.{{Cite book|last1=Gillon|first1=Jack|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pZckDwAAQBAJ&dq=brassfounders%27+column&pg=PT36|title=Edinburgh South Side Through Time|last2=Parkinson|first2=Fraser|publisher=Amberley Publishing|year=2017|isbn=978-1-4456-6167-4|language=en|via=Google Books}} At the fair, the column won a gold medal.{{Cite news|date=1 September 2008|title=Square revamped to former glory|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|publisher=BBC|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7591714.stm|access-date=2 October 2020}} Following the fair, the monument was moved to Nicolson Square in Edinburgh, where it still stands.{{Cite book|last=Gillon|first=Jack|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IlFpCAAAQBAJ&dq=brass+founders%27+pillar&pg=PT137|title=Secret Edinburgh|publisher=Amberley Publishing|year=2015|isbn=978-1-4456-3981-9|language=en|via=Google Books}} In 2008, the square and column underwent slight restoration.
Design
The monument consists of a granite base with a bronze square shaft consisting of six tiers. Each tier shows a heraldic coat of arms. The bronze statue of Tubal-cain on top of the shaft is in reference to his description in the Book of Genesis as being the first metalsmith. A bronze plaque attached to the base reads:
{{Quote|text=Executed and Erected by the Brassfounders of Edinburgh and Leith in Commemoration of the International Exhibition of 1886 and Presented to the City by the East of Scotland Brassfounders Society, 1909. Designed by James Gowans, Lord Dean of Guild of Edinburgh.}}
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Brass Founders' Pillar, Nicolson Square, Edinburgh}}
- {{Official website|https://canmore.org.uk/site/118660/edinburgh-nicolson-square-brass-founders-pillar|name=Canmore}}
{{Monuments in Edinburgh}}
{{Edinburgh}}
{{coord|55.94604|-3.18538|format=dms|type:landmark_region:GB|display=title}}
Category:1886 establishments in Scotland
Category:Buildings and structures completed in 1886