Ploughshare Collection

Peasants flinging down their ploughshares at the feet of Henry I
STC363641 Peasants flinging down their ploughshares at the feet of Henry I, illustration from Hutchinsons Story of the British Nation, c.1920 (litho) by Pearse

Festive costume of Conrad Pistor of the Kremer Guild, 1588
Festive costume of Conrad Pistor of the Kremer Guild in 1588, with his coat of arms with ploughshare, indicating blacksmith. From an Aschaffenburg guild book

The Ploughing Festival in China, frontispiece illustration for
CHT265531 The Ploughing Festival in China, frontispiece illustration for La Chine en Miniature, by J.B. Breton, Paris, edited by Nepveu

Balarama with His Ploughshare at the Jamna River, c. 1590-1600 (opaque w / c & gold on paper)
874445 Balarama with His Ploughshare at the Jamna River, c.1590-1600 (opaque w/c & gold on paper) by Indian School, (17th century); 18 x22.6 cm; San Diego Museum of Art

Balarama, 9th avatar of Vishnu (w / c on paper)
908404 Balarama, 9th avatar of Vishnu (w/c on paper) by Indian School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: eldest brother of Krishna; holding ploughshare;)

Egyptian household items. Handcolored copperplate engraving from Robert von Spalarts Historical Picture of the Costumes of the Principal People of Antiquity and of the Middle Ages. 1798

Wall painting from the tomb of the scribe Menna, Thebes, 18th dynasty. Scene of the Vendage: picking grapes in vineyard (right) and treading grapes (left)

All Professionally Made to Order for Quick Shipping

Through the ages, the humble ploughshare has been a symbol of agricultural transformation and peace. From peasants flinging down their ploughshares at Henry I's feet as a sign of rebellion, to the festive costume of Conrad Pistor of the Kremer Guild in 1588, this ancient tool has left an indelible mark on history. The Ploughing Festival in China, depicted in a frontispiece illustration, celebrates the harmony between farmers and the land. Balarama, the 9th avatar of Vishnu, is often shown wielding a ploughshare, emphasizing the divine connection to cultivation. Agricultural tools from Enkomi, Cyprus, and Egyptian household items reveal the ploughshare's ubiquity across civilizations. In a wall painting from the tomb of the scribe Menna in Thebes, the Vendage scene showcases the communal effort required for a successful harvest. Even in Africa, the ploughshare remains a vital tool, as evidenced by its presence in Madagascar's agricultural traditions. The ploughshare's enduring significance transcends time and culture, embodying the human spirit's unwavering dedication to the land and the sustenance it provides.