The Pig. Carved from Ancaster Limestone, weather-proofed and part-polished with beeswax.

Appx. 40cm (h) x 30cm (w) x 60cm (d)

This wee feller (coming in at a lively 45kg or so in weight) was a commissioned Christmas present for a pig fan.

It was a specific request for a short-snouted pig, so that’s what we have, after a lot of time spent looking at internet treasure troves of pig photos.

Ancaster Limestone is a lot of fun to carve, full of inclusions (small fossils, pockets of other minerals, and more) meaning it can be a bit of a challenge compared to the smooth beauty and fine magnesium veins of Tadcaster Limestone, but resulting in a lovely – if different – result at the end.

For the finish I wanted there to be rough(ish) parts to his hide, but also with gleaming patches across it to catch the light and make it more playful. Without being entirely certain how to get the right effect I grabbed a waxing cloth – but no more wax – and got to it. The final effect was exactly what I wanted, part slickly smooth, part rough to the fingers – definitely a technique I’ll use again.

Finally, I used a small ball of black wax in each eye, to give them that proper “piggy” eye look.

And now he’s gone to his new home in nearby Lancashire. Quarried in Lincolnshire, carved in Yorkshire, living in Lancashire!