The Black Sheep

Mounted pin-brooch, 2009 aterials: 20ct gold, silver, water opal, fire opal, 18ct white gold pin

height (without pin): 49mm width: 39mm ount: mixed media Signed and dated in silver of back artist’s no: 430.MP-B.09

Working so much with metaphor myself, it behoves me to attend, follow and (hopefully) understand the metaphors of others; but one which has long given me unease is the Last Judgment’s gathering, separating and binary division ‘as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats’*. Naturally I understand the message, but nevertheless cannot but feel, albeit somewhat literal-mindedly, that, the similarities between the two classes of Caprinae (a sub-family of the Bovidae, or hollow-horned ruminants) being far greater than their differences, moral categorisation should likewise be approached with greater caution and forbearance. Perhaps, then, the best metaphors are energised by their ambiguity... This pin’s creature was suggested in part by an element found in an early bronze candlestick, Venetian in origin, I’m sure. Four-horned, with pointed ears, the bronze mask is certainly a ram. Working from a sizeable piece of purplish water opal my own carved and modelled response, however, adopted some additional, biblically undesirable, characteristics more commonly found in goats, namely drooping ears and a beard; and, without question, no better word could possibly be found to describe these errant features than caprices. He is, of course, The Black Sheep.

* Matthew 25:32