Public Art - The Leicester Seamstress Statue

She is a lovely small statue of a seated Seamstress sitting on a stool dressed in a mop-cap bonnet, apron and gown whilst sewing a seam along a stocking. She represents all those people who worked in Leicester's mostly vanished hosiery industry - outworkers working in their homes for very low wages. She was sculpted by the same sculptor - James Barber RA - who also made the King Richard 111 statue which is nearby in St. Martin's, Leicester outside Leicester Cathedral.She's beautiful in her simplicity, in my opinion, and greatly loved by Leicester folk. She's been in her original location outside of The City Rooms since 1990. She has never been vandalised in all that time, to the best of my knowledge, such is the affection for her even though her low plinth puts her at waist height.She's worth seeing for a few minutes - she's not one of the world's greatest works of art but I think she's exquisite. See what you think.

This statue was re-installed by Councillor Patrick Kitterick as part of the city centre development project December 2007.The statue reflects the female contribution to the local hosiery industry. Most hosiery employees were women, working in small workshops or at home.

The Seamstress represents the importance to Leicester of the hosiery industry. The statue can be found outside the City Rooms in Hotel Street just off Horsefair Street.