Manual Ref* SUipIP031 Show 3 images 636
Title*

The Major
County Suffolk   District Council Ipswich Borough Council 
Civil Parish or equivalent Ipswich  Town/Village* Ipswich - Town Centre 
Road Major's corner and Old Foundry Road 
Precise Location On top of public toilets 
OS Grid Ref TM166447  Postcode IP3 
Previous location(s)  
Setting On Building  Access Public 
Artist/Maker Role Qualifier
Paul Richardson  Sculptor(s)   

Commissioned by

 Ipswich Borough Council 

Design & Constrn period

 2005 

Date of installing

  

Exact date of unveiling

  

Category
Abstract Animal Architectural
Commercial Commemorative Composite
Free Functional Funerary
Heraldic Military Natural
Non-Commemorative Performance Portable
Religious Roadside, Wayside Sculptural
Temporary, Mobile Other  

Object Type
Building Clock Tower Architectural
Coat of Arms Cross Fountain
Landscape Marker Medallion
Mural Panel Readymade
Relief Shaft Sculpture
Statue Street Furniture War Memorial
Other Object Sub Type: Bust of Major swatting flies

Subject Type
Allegorical Mythological Pictorial
Figurative Non-figurative Portrait
Still-life Symbolic Other

Subject Sub Type
Bust Equestrian Full-length
Group Head Reclining
Seated Standing Torso
Part Material Dimension
Major  Steel painted black  H. approx. 1.80 metres 

Work is
Extant Not Sited Lost

Owner/Custodian

 Ipswich Borough Council 

Listing status
Grade I Grade II* Grade II Don't Know Not Listed

Surface Condition
Corrosion, Deterioration Accretions
Bird Guano Abrasions, cracks, splits
Biological growth Spalling, crumbling
Metallic staining Previous treatments
Other  
Detail:

Structural Condition
Armature exposed Broken or missing parts
Replaced parts Loose elements
Cracks, splits, breaks, holes Spalling, crumbling
Water collection Other
Detail:

Vandalism
Graffiti Structural damage Surface Damage
Detail:

Overall condition
Good Fair Poor

Risk
No Known Risk At Risk Immediate
Signatures/Marks  
Inscriptions Public Toilets opened 2003 

Description (physical)

 The Major is shown with handlebar moustache monocle plumed helmet and medals on his chest one hand raised to swat one of two flies on the curved wall of the toilet block opened in 2003 

Description (iconographical)

 Paul Richardson was chosen to add public sculpture to the new public toilets because of his reputation for humorous sculpture and ability to bring his figures alive. The major is a caricature of an Indian army major concerned for hygiene as he swats at the flies endemic to hot climates and toilets. 

Photographs

 Date taken:  5/4/2007
Date logged: 

Photographed by:
Sarah Cocke

On Site Inspection

 Date:  28/2/2007

Inspected by:
A. Stone and N. Hems

Sources and References

  

Database

 Date entered:  19/8/2007

Data inputter:
Richard Cocke