Shakespeare interest. A section of a crab apple tree

Shakespeare interest. A section of a crab apple tree, one side with a carved bone portrait of William Shakespeare, mounted in copper, the verso inscribed 'Fragment of SHAKESPEARE'S CRAB TREE Cut down 1815', 8cm diameter.

The legend of Shakespeare's crab apple tree relates to a tree under which Shakespeare had apparently slept off a drinking binge, the tree subsequently gained magical powers. The legend dates back to the middle of the 18th century and was referred to by David Garrick. During the 18th century there was an informal tourist industry in Stratford with people visiting Shakespeare's tomb and also the mulberry tree at New Place which he had supposedly planted. When the Mulberry tree was cut down in 1756, the residents started to promote other locations associated with Shakespeare. The tree nicknamed 'Shakespeare's Canopy', was found on the main road to Bidford on Avon and was a minor shrine and a target of souvenir hunters until it collapsed in 1824.