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Tartan Army's Cone Craze Baffles and Delights
4 Jul
Summary
- Statue coning began in Glasgow in the 1980s, escalating into a conflict with the council.
- The Tartan Army's coning of statues in Boston has sparked international interest and local amusement.
- The tradition has spread across Scotland, appearing on monuments and even merchandise.
A unique Scottish tradition of placing traffic cones on statues, most famously on Glasgow's Duke of Wellington, has gained international attention thanks to the Tartan Army's recent actions. This practice, believed to have started with students in the 1980s, initially led to a prolonged, albeit playful, conflict with Glasgow City Council over the coning of the Duke of Wellington statue.
The tradition has since become an iconic symbol of Glasgow, even earning praise from artist Banksy. When the Tartan Army visited Boston, they extended this custom to local statues, a gesture that was reportedly well-received by the city's residents, leading to a symbolic gift of a coned item between the cities.
However, the coning practice has generated mixed reactions back home. While some view it as a harmless cultural expression, others, like Edinburgh city councillor Jo Mowatt, consider it undignified for historical monuments. Despite these concerns, the tradition has spread beyond major cities, appearing on statues in Dumfries and Inverness, and even on merchandise and festival wear, indicating its enduring and evolving cultural significance.
