Heraldic Shields from Old Library

Shields from Old Library

  • Artist: Unknown maker
  • Date made: 1958
  • Medium: Stone
  • Research and Cultural Collections
  • Accession number: BIRRC-A1490.1 
  • Location: Green Heart. To find this sculpture, you can either use its what three words location or use the campus digital map.

These iconic pieces of campus architecture feature the coat of arms of the University of Birmingham alongside two of the University's founding benefactors, the Mason and Calthorpe families. They were carved in situ in 1958 above the entrance to the former Main Library where they remained until the building was demolished as part of the expansion of campus parkland in 2017. The shields were carefully removed from the masonry during the demolition process, conserved and built into the new design for the walkway through the Green Heart.

Set of three carved and painted stone Heraldic Shields from Old Library by William Bloye set into wall
Set of three carved and painted stone Heraldic Shields from Old Library by William set into wall in context with Muirhead Tower behind
Set of three carved and painted stone Heraldic Shields from Old Library by William Bloye set into wall
Detail close up of University of Birmingham Crest from Heraldic Shields from Old Library by William Bloye

 

Visual description

These three heraldic shields are set into a red brick wall alongside a walkway. They are viewed from the path below by looking upwards over a grass verge. Each shield is carved into yellow-warm toned natural stone and has three tiers of stone, the lines of which can be seen across the carved surface. Each shield retains a tiered strip of unpainted stone which runs vertically up the side and has a circle shape at the top. 

The left-hand shield features a gilded, carved double-headed lion on a muted red background. It faces to the left and its two head are viewed in profile. Each mouth has a pointed tongue protruding from it. Its front paws are raised with four claws on each paw. Its legs are bent and it is pictured upright as if standing. Its tail runs out behind and it has a spiked, shaped mane, with spikes running up the back of its legs and tail. 

The central shield is divided into three sections. In the upper-left section is a double headed lion on red background. In the upper-right section is a mermaid on blue background. It has the torso of a nude female and the tail of a fish which curls to the right into a knot with a forked end. It has long flowing hair and a smiling expression. Its arms are held up at either side with bent elbows. The left-hand holds a mirror and the right hand holds a comb. The lower central section depicts an open book with white pages, black lettering, gold page edges and locking mechanism on a black background. On the left-hand page of the book is written ‘per ardua’, and on the right-hand page is written ‘ad alta’. 

The right-hand shield features four sections. The top left section has three background stripes, the top and bottom are blue and the central stripe is white. There are gold squares within the blue stripes and black cross-type shapes with dots in the central white stripe. The top right section has three background stripes, the top and bottom are red and the central stripe is white. There are two animal heads carved within the top stripe and one in the bottom, all three are painted gold. In the central white stripe there is a blue heraldic lion. The bottom left corner depicts three sharp, narrow black triangles pointing down from the top edge on a white background. The bottom right section has three background stripes, the top and bottom are blue and the central stripe is white. There are gold squares within the blue stripes and black cross-type shapes with dots in the central white stripe. At the top left of all except the bottom left section there is a white square with five black cross-shapes each with three dots at the top point.