In A Collection
Granite 9x4x4ft 9.00 tons. Location: Riverside Park, Glenrothes. Sold. Unveiled by HRH The Prince of Wales.
This work was commissioned by Glenrothes Development Corporation to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the New Town. Rae based his sculpture on the King’s Cross tube disaster after seeing firemen carry the victims to safety. The sculpture symbolises the community spirit of the town.
Granite: 5x8x7ft 7.00 tons. Location: Island of Iona. Gifted.
Carved in pink and grey Kemnay granite this powerful work portrays the Fallen Christ on the road to Calvary with the burden of the world on his back. His arm becomes the vertical part of the cross with the heavy beam on which are carved the letters I.N.R.I. – Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews.
This sculpture is appropriately sited outside the MacLeod Centre on Iona, the island of pilgrimage on the west coast of Scotland where St. Columba landed from Ireland in AD563.
The sculpture is dedicated to the memory of Jim Hughes who was an active member of the Iona Community and friend of the sculptor. Margaret, Jim’s wife who features in the video below sadly died last year her ashes being scattered round the sculpture as Jim’s had been too.
To see a short video about this sculpture go to Latest News on Video at the right hand column of this page and click on Ronald Rae visits his Fallen Christ sculpture on Iona.
The Fallen Christ has inspired many poems – Child’s Play by one of Mull’s leading poets Jan Sutch Pickard beautifully describes a day in the life of the sculpture.
Child’s Play
Sun burnishes the granite,
a blessing on the stone
making it warm as human skin
but still as hard as bone.
Sculpture of the Fallen Christ
like an erratic boulder:
a child at play has clambered up
to perch upon his shoulder
She rides upon the solid rock
joyfully, safely there:
rough stone supports her hands and feet,
the wind plays with her hair.
I see a place of refuge
for a troubled little girl:
God’s back being broad enough to bear
the weight of all the world.
Jan Sutch Pickard – Wild Goose Publications
Granite: 4x4x3ft 2.00 tons. Location: Private collection, Lanarkshire. Sold.
A mother elephant and her calf lovingly entwine. The title for this work expresses the power and gentleness of God which is also in elephants. This was Rae’s first elephant sculpture. He would carve many more. Purchased from the exhibition at St. John’s Church, Edinburgh.
Granite: 5x7x6ft 6.00 tons. Location: Private Collection. Macclesfield. Sold.
Bear also features in writer and poet Jenny Melmoth’s latest book called Of Dogs and Cats and Bear.
To find out about this fascinating memoir by someone who loves animals visit www.jenny-melmoth.com
Carved in Kemnay granite, over 470 million years old, this animated brown bear which once roamed the United Kingdom until the 10th century sniffs the air. Rae’s concern for endangered species often features in his animal sculptures.
Granite: 4x3x3ft 2.00 tons. Location: Nipponzan Myohoji Temple, Willen Lake – Milton Keynes. Sold.
A figure twists in anguish and looks upwards saying “Let this never happen again.” Carved in memory of those who died in Hiroshima, this sculpture warns of the tragedy of nuclear war. Every year on 6th August, Hiroshima Day, candles are lit around the sculpture.
Purchased from the Ronald Rae Exhibition at Milton Keynes 1995-1999 and gifted to the Temple by art consultant, Edna Read who died tragically in a car crash in October 2012. She is greatly missed.
Granite: 6x13x5ft 11.00 tons Location: Millbrook, USA. Sold
Carved in Kemnay granite this sculpture was inspired by the cave art at Lascaux in France where the images of animals were carved on to the natural rock surfaces.
Rae’s sculpture represents an elephant family – on one side the tusked patriarch with the baby elephant, on the other side the gentle matriarch.
The sculpture was purchased from the Regent’s Park Exhibtion, carefully packed in a container and shipped out to the USA.
Granite 5x9x5ft 9.00 tons. Location: Private collection, Peak District. Sold.
Privately commissioned, this powerful work carved in Kemnay granite which is 470 million years old, is sited in farmland on a right of way where it is enjoyed and photographed endlessly by passers-by. Ruggedly carved it is the essence of bull.
Granite: 8x22x3ft 15.00 tonnes. Location: Somerset. Sold.
Carved in Corrennie pink granite which is 460 million years old, this monumental relief draws attention to the tiger as an endangered species – less than 3,000 tigers left in the world now!
The sculpture also celebrates William Blake’s well known poem.
Tyger, Tyger, burning bright,
In the forests of the night
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?
The stone for this sculpture was an amazing find in the quarry. At 22 feet long it was the largest stone to date that Rae had tackled. When the tiger emerged out of the stone he decided it was well worth the effort.
The BBC filmed the Tyger Tyger being moved to Somerset as part of their series called The Crane Gang. It was broadcast on BBC2 on 29th September 2013 at 8pm and can be viewed on YouTube.
Granite:5x6x3ft 3.00 tons. Location: Erdington Railway Station, Birmingham. Sold.
In this sculpture Rae tackles subjects dear to him. On one side of the stone the cross relates to his Celtic roots. On the other side, one of the smallest forms of life, the insect, is presented just as large to show respect for life no matter how insignificant it might seem. Purchased from the exhibition at Sheffield by Centro.
Granite: 4x9x5ft 5.00 tons. Location: Victoria Quays, Sheffield. Sold.
Through this work Rae shows his love and concern for all creatures – not only the cow is sacred.
The sculpture was chosen by ballot from the exhibition by the schools and purchased by the Sheffield Development Corporation following the Ronald Rae Sculpture Exhibition at Nunnery Square, Sheffield in 1994. Rae gave a talk to the school children and in return received hundreds of letters and drawings of the sculptures from the pupils which he treasures to this day.