A Lesson in Trust
Entry ID
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110 (04/02/2022)
Formal title of the work
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A Lesson in Trust
Description of the sculpture
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A half-length, lime-wood sculpture of two men embracing. A man in a sleeveless top extends his left arm forwards while his right hand touches the shoulder of a man wearing a green shirt. Both figures are positioned on a wooden base.
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Created whilst the artist was undertaking a residency at the Moat Community College. He wanted to be a role model to the young Black men in the classes.
URLs where this is recorded/available
Type of object
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Statue: Group (multiple figures)
Base
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Base present - appears to be the original base
Dimensions
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Height: 72 cm
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Width: 66 cm
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Depth: 27 cm
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Plinth height: 68 cm
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Plinth width: 46 cm
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Plinth depth: 71 cm
Materials
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Lime wood / linden
Specific techniques used
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Carving
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Other
Overall colour
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Polychrome
Inscriptions
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On metal plaque affixed to base: 'A LESSON IN TRUST / BY / BILL MING 1985'
Does the Black person have a specific identity?
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Anonymous: generic/idealised type
Role within sculpture
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Main protagonist
Gender
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Male
Age
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Adult
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Adolescent
Status
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Free citizen
Clothing
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Wearing clothes – European/Western clothing
Evidence of enslavement
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None
Evidence of 'exotic' status
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None
Action or activity
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Other
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Standing
Emotional state
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Other
Focus of gaze of Black person
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Looking downwards
Sculptural context
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No location included/implied
Sculptor
Place of production
Period of production
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Twentieth century (1900-1999)
Date of Production
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1984
Date inferred from
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Recorded in related documentation
Original purpose
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Unknown
Original display setting
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Secular Civic: other
Current owner
Current / most recently known location
Accession number
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Y.F5.2006.0.0
Provenance history
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2006: Transferred to Leicester Museum and Art Gallery from Moat Community College, Leicester
Notes
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This sculpture represents positive human relationships, portraying helpful communication, support and understanding.
Current rights holder
License terms for reuse
http://13.41.147.145/s/database/item/920, . (no date) ‘A Lesson in Trust’, Black People in European Sculpture, accessed May 5, 2025, http://13.41.147.145/s/database/item/919
