Kelly's Cats
Artist
Sydney Boyes
(Southampton, England, 1878 - 1931)
ManufacturerManufactured by
William Wilson
(Aberdeen, Scotland)
AssociatedAssociated with
William Kelly
(Aberdeen, Scotland, 1861 - 1944)
Date1910
Object NameSculpture
Mediumcast iron painted black; cast in concrete and painted black
ClassificationsSculptures
Dimensions40 x 13.5 x 13.5cm
AcquisitionOwned by Aberdeen City Council under the curatorial care of Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums.
CopyrightOut of copyright
Object numberABDCC001088.2
About MeKnown locally as 'Kelly's Cats' these cats are in fact the leopards used in the city coat of arms and were once ranged along the two parapets of Union Bridge. The name 'Kelly's Cats' is actually a misnomer, as only the bronze panels which are placed on the bridge were designed by Aberdeen architect William Kelly and installed in 1908. The cast iron leopard finials were actually designed by Sidney Boyes, who taught at Grays School of Art, Aberdeen. The parapets were added when the bridge was first widened (1905-08). The cats were cast by William Wilson and erected on the bridge in 1910. Designed in a sitting or upright position, there are 16 cats in position at present on the north side of the bridge, of which 6 are cast iron and the other 10 are cast in concrete and painted black. The cats on the south side of the bridge were removed to the winter gardens in Duthie Park in 1962, when building took place.
During the summer of 2005, a hundred replicas of the famous 'Kelly's Cats', were given to artists to decorate. These were on display around the city, before being auctioned off for the Catwalk charity project.
George Washington Wilson
mid 19th-late 19th Century
1900s
