Wildlife sculptor Knox Field recently debuted his first piece of public sculpture: a bronze blackbuck, representing the mascot of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.
The antelope was adopted as a badge by the Royal Warwickshire Fusiliers after the Battle of Sarragosa in 1710. After being stationed in India, the regiment adopted the blackbuck, specifically, as a mascot. It was inherited by the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers following amalgamation in 1968, and the unit has kept a live blackbuck, named Bobby, until the death of the last one in 2005. With the species now protected by animal welfare laws, the regiment has been using an Otterhound named George as a substitute.
"Working to create Bobby, the Blackbuck Antelope memorial sculpture for the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, has been the most rewarding project of my career to date," said Field. "The challenge for me was to honour the stylised portrayal of the mascot on the regimental cap-badge whilst capturing the realism of a black buck in the wild. To see Bobby unveiled in the majestic surroundings of Warwick Castle on the 80th Anniversary of D-Day by the Duke of Kent, is quite simply amazing."
The smoother texture of the new statue somewhat deviates from Field's other works, which use movements and bold, rough textures to convey character.
Field was born in West Sussex, where he developed a love for both wild and domestic animals. He is currently based in Oxford, and has exhibited his work all over the UK, including at the Mall Gallery's and La Galleria Pall Mall in London's West End.
The idea for the blackbuck statue originated with Col. Richard Cariss in 2020. The plans were put on hold due to the pandemic, and resumed this March.
Field's blackbuck statue is in the Peacock Garden of Warwick Castle, where it was unveiled by the Duke of Kent, Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Fusiliers, last June 6 coinciding with the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The Fusiliers took part in the landings, with 500 men parachuting on Normandy to draw German fire away from the beaches. This year also marks the 350th anniversary of the founding of the regiment.
