Plaster Encoche Sculpture By Mary Syme Boyd (1910-1997)

A 20th century plater sculpture by Mary Boyd signed and dated to the base 1931, very much in the manner of Jean Antoine Houdon and his L'Ecorché. Age related discolouration, staining, nibbles and knocks.

68cm in height
17cm in width @ base
16cm in depth @ base

Mary Syme Boyd was born in Edinburgh in 1910. Her mother was Clara Constance Lepper (1875-1961) of Co.Antrim. Her father was Francis Darby Boyd (1866-1922), Professor of Clinical Medicine at the University of Edinburgh.

She attended the Edinburgh College of Art from 1929 to 1933. There she had access to a small animal menagerie where students were encouraged to make life studies. Boyd's fascination with animals went on to become the primary subject matter throughout her career.

Like her fellow animal sculptor and Edinburgh College of Art alumni, Phyllis Bone, before her Boyd was awarded a travel scholarship to study in Paris in 1931–32, where she studied under the tutelage of the acclaimed animal sculptor, Edouard Navellier. There she developed her techniques in bronze casting.

In 1934, Boyd was awarded another scholarship which allowed her to travel to Denmark, Sweden, Germany, Belgium and France. According to the Biographical Dictionary of Scottish Women "her notebooks about her European tour and her wartime service are extraordinary testaments." Whilst travelling, she sought out examples of modern sculpture but also admired pewter, Danish silver and wood carvings in churches. Later that same year, Boyd returned to Edinburgh to settle in Belford Mews, where she stayed until her death.

Apart from the diaries she kept during her European tour and wartime service, little else is known about Boyd's life outside of her artwork other than she did not marry or have children. There are accounts of "her great love of driving and her exploration of the Scottish Highlands" .

She died in Edinburgh on 30 October 1997 and was buried with her sister Lesbia Boyd in Dean Cemetery. The grave lies very close to the main entrance, on the south side of the central east–west path. Her parents lie alongside, with a hand-carved stone by Mary. Some records say she carved her own name on her memorial with only the date to infill. Her name is not carved, as with her sister's name above it, is added in preformed lead letters.