Figure of Justice
Reproduction
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Object number09442
TitleFigure of Justice
DescriptionThis simple female statue, carved from a single block of oak, is in fact the Figure of Justice. For centuries, she stood in Stirling’s Town Court watching as cases were heard, criminals tried, and sentences handed out.
Justice has been depicted as female since ancient times – she was Themis, the Greek Goddess of Justice and Law, and Justicia (Justice), one of the four Virtues in Roman mythology. She is most often portrayed as blindfolded, carrying a sword and a set of scales. The scales represent the weighing of evidence; the sword symbolises her power and authority; the blindfold is to emphasise her purity and impartiality.
Figures of Justice began to be portrayed as blindfolded in the 16th century. Looking at her unwavering gaze, we believe our figure might be much, much older. Perhaps she was adapted from an altar statue from one of the town’s pre-Reformation religious houses? If you look closely you can see a small hole in her right hand, adapted to hold a set of scales. She was given to the museum in the 19th century, replaced by a colourful plaster copy. The latter stood in Stirling’s Sheriff Court until the late 1980s.
Production placeStirling,
Production period14th century
Object nameFigure,, Carved Figure
TechniqueCarved