Brass Founders' Pillar

The Brass Founders’ Pillar stands in Nicolson Square, a quiet garden square in Edinburgh’s south side. It is a tall column of polished granite and bronze, topped by a bronze figure of Tubal-cain, the first metalsmith from the Book of Genesis. The shaft is divided into six bronze tiers, each carved with a heraldic coat of arms. James Gowans designed the column for the 1886 International Exhibition of Industry, Science and Art. John Stevenson Rhind created the statue at the top, which won the column a gold medal at the fair. The monument was moved to Nicolson Square after the exhibition and has stood there since. A bronze plaque on the base records that the brassfounders of Edinburgh and Leith presented it to the city in 1909. In 2008 the square and column were lightly restored to preserve their details. The guild chose Tubal-cain to celebrate the craft of metalworking. The coats of arms on the tiers represent the guilds involved in the project. Visitors find a calm green space around the pillar, with benches and paths for a quiet stroll. The bronze surfaces catch the light, showing the crisp heraldic designs and the figure of Tubal-cain holding a hammer. Nicolson Square itself is a small rectangle of lawn and mature trees, bordered by terraced houses. The pillar rises above the trees, visible from several approaches. The contrast between the dark granite base and the golden bronze shaft makes the monument striking in all weathers.