Mermaid Relief

Artist: William Bloye (1808-1975)
Date: 1960
Medium: Carved stone
Research and Cultural Collections
Accession number: BIRRC-A0656
Location: Guild of Students

This carved stone relief on the wall of the Guild of Students depicts a mermaid and was sculpted by prolific municipal sculptor William Bloye. The symbol of the mermaid can be found throughout the University of Birmingham campus and is drawn from the University’s heraldic shield which features a mermaid and a double headed lion.

Stone carved Mermaid Relief by William Bloye

Close up detail of stone carved Mermaid Relief by William Bloye including face and left hand holding shell

Stone carved Mermaid Relief by William Bloye in context set into wall of Guild of Students

Visual description

This carved relief is installed at height, set directly into the deep brown stone wall of the Guild of Students Building. It is a natural grey stone colour in appearance with naturally occurring green moss adding emphasis to the head, upper arms stomach and tail areas. It depicts a mermaid with the torso of a woman and the tail of a fish. The mermaid has long, wavy hair and carries a fan in its right hand and a clam shell is its left. Its face is turned towards the hand holding the clam shell. Its tail is coiled at the end and splits into a fork.