20/02/2014
PRINCETON HAS THE EYE OF THE TIGER!
On the 16th of November 2000, American university Princeton gained two guardians for Princeton stadium.
Constructed of stainless steel, the two 3,176 kilo tiger statues were given to Princeton as a gift from investment banker William M, Weaver Jnr., a previous graduate of Princeton (1934) who had donated money to construct a track field stadium named in his honour.
The magnificent tigers are 2.7 meters tall, 4.8 meters long and were created by North Carolina metal sculptor Ruffin Hobbs in only 3 months! The tigers are set up in a pouncing stance, which Hobbs commented on the Princeton website, “Stainless Steel is so tough but it’s clear that if you heat it right and shape it right, you can create a kind of movement with it.”
In the sunlight, iridescent patterns on the stainless imply tiger stripes and valves were sculpted to create tiger paws. The bodies of the mighty beast are hollow, with the outline made of mesh. This was soon filled out, as after spending a winter in the University greenhouse, ivy was grown inside both the tigers, creating a nice bushy coat.
Coinciding with the ancient beliefs of tigers being reincarnations of royalty, it only seems fitting for their home be on the grounds of Princeton!