Penny-a-yard

Category

Library Item

Item no

11339

Title

Penny-a-yard

Description

A man wearing a coat and carrying a shoulder bag holds a length of chain and on his hat is written, 'Penny a yard'.

The poet, Donald Campbell has written a poem inspired by this character by Holt:

Penny-a-yard

In the smithy, as a lad,
bound apprentice to his dad,
he learned to make so many things;
horseshoes, crowbars, iron rings.
Now, nothing's left of that old trade
except the chains he often made.
He's getting on now; times are hard
so he sells his chains at penny-a-yard.

Artist / maker

Holt, Edward P.

Date

1871

Size

24.2 x 14.5 cm

Type

Watercolour

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Edward Holt was an Edinburgh caricaturist and figure painter working in the second half of the nineteenth century. This bound volume contains a large proportion of his surviving work.
There is a little uncertainty over Edward Holt's name. He is sometimes referred to as Edmund and was more commonly known as Ned.

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Related subjects

Clothing and dress > Accessories > Hats

Clothing and dress > Garments > Jacket

Clothing and dress > Garments > Trousers

People > Adults > Men

People > Commercial activities > Street traders

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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