286 – carved wooden figure – Meg Merrilies
- Physical description:
- Beautiful carved wooden figure. Inscribed with the name Meg Merrilies.
- Museum classification:
- Images of Witchcraft
- Size:
- 750mm height
- Information:
This wonderful example of English woodcarving is of Meg Merrilies, the gypsy witch in Sir Walter Scott's novel 'Guy Mannering'. Meg was probably based on the famous Scottish gypsy Jean Gordon.
This particular carving seems to be based on the portrayal of Meg Merrilies by the American actress Charlotte Cushman, in a dramatisation of Scott's book. A photograph c.1860 of Charlotte Cushman in the role survives, and is strikingly similar to the carving. It was one of Cushman's most popular roles, first performed by her in 1837.- Resource:
- Object
- Materials:
- Wood
- Copyright ownership:
- Copyright to The Museum of Witchcraft Ltd.
This wonderful example of English woodcarving is of Meg Merrilies, the gypsy witch in Sir Walter Scott's novel 'Guy Mannering'. Meg was probably based on the famous Scottish gypsy Jean Gordon.
This particular carving seems to be based on the portrayal of Meg Merrilies by the American actress Charlotte Cushman, in a dramatisation of Scott's book. A photograph c.1860 of Charlotte Cushman in the role survives, and is strikingly similar to the carving. It was one of Cushman's most popular roles, first performed by her in 1837.