Members of the public are flocking to buy raffle tickets to win a pair of original gilded copper ‘Herdy’ money boxes as a fundraiser for charity.
Lakeland’s iconic company, Herdy, has kindly donated the ceramic Herdys to the Cumbrian-based charity, Brathay Trust, to be raffled in support of its work improving the well-being of families and young people.
The ‘fab-ewe-lous’ Herdy money banks are being raffled online as a pair and both have been gilded with copper by Cumbrian artists, Jessica Elleray and Siobhan Miles-Moore.
The artists have been working together to raise awareness of copper, not just as a versatile material used by local artists, but also its importance in the Lake District’s industrial heritage, particularly in relation to Coniston copper mines.
The copper Herdys have already attracted considerable public interest having been used to help publicise a collection of industrial artefacts that Siobhan and Jessica have gilded by hand to create a Copper Sculpture Trail in the foothills of the Old Man of Coniston. The trail was featured on a recent episode of BBC’s Sunday show, Countryfile.
“It’s been great fun seeing two of our ceramic Herdy money banks being gilded and transformed by the very talented Jessica and Siobhan,” said Herdy’s co-founder, Diane Hannah. “Siobhan is artist in residence at Brathay Trust and we are very happy to join her in offering our support to the charity.”
Brathay Chief Executive, Godfrey Owen, added: “We are very grateful to Siobhan and Jessica for taking the time to support us and to the Herdy company for their willingness to get involved. Copper is as fundamental to the story of the Lake District as Herdwick sheep and we are thrilled to have the opportunity to feature both in our charity raffle. The Herdys are stunning to look at and make iconic collectors’ items.”
Raffle tickets to win the Herdys are £5 each and can be purchased online: https://www.brathay.org.uk/support-us/copper-herdys
The lucky winner will be announced on 24th November 2019 at 15:30 during a Miles Moore Ceramics’ open studio event at Brathay Hall in Ambleside.
