Relief carved ceramic thistle tile

4x4 Relief carved and handpainted thistle tile

Available at earthsongtiles.com

The thistle, a favorite food of many song birds, especially finches, is an ancient Celtic symbol for nobility of both character & birth. It has been the national emblem of Scotland for well over 500 years.

This is an excerpt from a Robert Burns poem, writen in reply to        

' The Guid Wife of Wauchope House'  a poem writen to Burns by Elizabeth Scott 1787.

The rough burr-thistle,

spreading wide among the bearded bear

I turn'd the weeder-clips aside

A'n spare'd the symbol dear

No nation, no station

my envy e'er could raise:

A Scot still, but blot still,

I knew know higher praise.