Souter Johnnie and Tam O’Shanter Cast Iron Door Stops

A pair of early 19thC cast iron polychrome painted door stops. They depict two figures drinking; based upon the characters from Robbie Burns poem Tam O’Shanter. The extract below gives the mood; “But to our tale:– Ae market-night, Tam had got planted unco right; Fast by an ingle, bleezing finely, Wi’ reaming swats, that drank divinely And at his elbow, Souter Johnny, His ancient, trusty, drouthy crony; Tam lo’ed him like a vera brither– They had been fou for weeks thegither! The night drave on wi’ sangs and clatter And ay the ale was growing better: The landlady and Tam grew gracious, wi’ favours secret,sweet and precious The Souter tauld his queerest stories; The landlord’s laugh was ready chorus: The storm without might rair and rustle, Tam did na mind the storm a whistle.” Likely cast in Scotland C.1830-40