‘Boar’ was commissioned as a concrete sculpture in 1957 for Slacksbury Hatch. On completion, Harlow Art Trust decided to site the work at Bush Fair shopping precinct. The Trust usually nominated a member to oversee the commissioning process. In this instance it was Sir Frederick Gibberd, as he had had a relationship with Elisabeth Frink, having been commissioned to make the altar crucifix for Gibberd’s Liverpool Cathedral. A preliminary drawing of the altar crucifix can be seen at the Gibberd Gallery. On completion, the Trust was dissatisfied with the final work and initially withheld Frink’s fee. The work was modelled straight from the concrete and not cast as expected, although the Trust had not specified the work to be cast. The Trust insisted that Frink undertake a series of changes notably refinement of the surface and colour.