Day 21 - Fairburn Gourd

[vilakins]

Today's naarmamo drawing is another quick one because I've been out (unwillingly) for most of the day and I'm going out this evening.

Decorated Gourd with a History



This gourd is quite large (40 cm / 15 inches tall) and has a history. I don't suppose most of you have heard of the NZ poet A R D Fairburn, who was once served a nasty cuppa at Mercer railway station and said memorably that "The squalid tea of Mercer is not strained." I think of this just about every time I drive through Mercer. :-) Anyway his brother Geoffrey Fairburn was an artist, as was Geoffrey's wife Jean, and he decorated two gourds and gave one to me and one to my sister many years ago when they lived next door to us. I feel especially honoured to know that he also gave a gourd like this to the NZ embassy in London. The pattern is very muted, but I think I succeeded in giving an idea of it.

Oh wow, look, here's a gourd he did, and another very pretty one! Maybe I should insure mine.

My NaArMaMo 2009 Gallery is here.

Comments

[kerravonsen]

Cool.

[vandonovan.livejournal.com]

Oh, what a neat story that goes with it too! I love the values you've got on this, really subtle on the pattern, then that great shadow and shine and some really fantastic texture too. I only wish the black lines on the rope were a bit softer. Still, great piece.

[ultrapsychobrat.livejournal.com]

This is wonderful--love the shading. Yes, insure it.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

That is a fascinating story and a great picture. You should get it valued you never know you could be rich and not know it. %)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I noticed that too. I intended to soften those and forgot. :-P

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It was a gift though! I suppose I should add it to the list of high value items.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I should do! It would be hard to value though.

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

I like the unsoftened lines of the string, they contrast with the body of the gourd and help with the roundness of it.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It actually has a knot in it like the second photo I link to, but I couldn't be bothered trying to draw that.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

I Know what you mean about it being a gift, I can't bear to give gifts away (since I have nothing that would be valuable enough to sell)but it should go on the high value list. If you should be burgled(God Forbid)by some one who knows what he is looking at(very unlikely)you should be able to claim it's true value.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

You really own a unique thing! Such a precious piece of art, wow and congraturlations.
Your picture is beautiful!
Mmm...it is not bad, to think of insuring your gourd!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Hmm. I'd have to prove its provenance, and I'm not sure I can do that unless it's checked by an expert.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I'd just have to prove it's what it is, but you can see it's like the ones in the photos. I daresay a check of the addresses would also count for a lot.