Nobody NEEDS any of these, and my chances of getting any range from possible to slim to no way on earth, but as an over- the- top wish list...
From
Aero Art, who do remarkable military miniatures (I have a Mongol drummer on a Bactrian camel and a Mogul warrior with a monitor lizard), comes one I love even better, but it ain't cheap; Saladin with tazis. The level of research is amazing-- these look like they have the "Khalag tasy" coat, borne by intermediate types between tazis and taigans, in the high Asian foothills from Afghanistan to Kyrgizstan. The only fitting sequel would be his equally noble rival and contemporary,
Frederic II, with a gyrfalcon.
The classic shotgun I consider to be the most beautiful gun in the world, more subtle than any sidelock: a bar- in- wood round action triggerplate lock late 19th century Edinborough- built
James McNaughton, the first I have ever seen in 20 bore, for the -- really-- astonishingly low price of just under $15,000; restored subtly, with in- proof Damascus 28- inch barrels. I'd be tempted to sell all my guns and get it, but Libby would murder me, knowing I would just begin re- acquiring them. She knows I can live with a small battery-- see link to Old Gunkie below-- but not ONE.
A painting (owned by the International Museum of Wildlife Art in Jackson Wyoming) by Raymond Harris Ching, of a Lanner falcon, that is my favorite painting of a falcon ever, period.
A "horned" matchlock rifle from Afghanistan, being demonstrated by its owner, a Hazara tribesman, in the 1870's, ht Jess:
A sculpture by
Edouard Martinet. (Recommended by Annie D)
7 comments:
That Lanner painting is dynamite.
I like the painting of the Lanner, particularly the head, but the front of the bird appears un-smooth and slightly ruffled. Whenever I see that in my bird, it suggests to me that something is off with the bird (the front should appear smooth and composed, almost slick), and I think I instinctively reacted to the painting that way, something's not quite right with this bird. The slightly dropped wings contributes to this effect.
D
The Saladin sculpture made me gasp — wow.
Jim Cornelius
www.frontierpartisans.com
That is an outstanding painting, but the bird does seem somewhat unsettled like it just returned to the fist after a bate.
Guy
I agree with you and Daniel-- but Ray Ching likes texture, and I wonder if he didn't paint the "distressed" texture to give it more. If either of you get to Jackson look for it and maybe ask to see it if it is not out (they have let us though granted we can drop names like Tom Quinn, Tony Angell, who are in their permanent collection, and know their first curator Maria Hajic who lives in Santa Fe (;-))
Also ask for the Quinns-- my OTHER favorite raptor painting, Quinn's tiny watercolor of a gos that was on the cover of Edge of the Wild, lives there too. And a huge oil by Liljefors of a peregrine stooping at mallards. And...
Yeah, that Salad Din sculpture is swell, but the price is SWOLLEN! I wonder if they might have "used" copies on Amazon?(ahem!).....L.B.
The lanner painting crept back into my mind and I had to return for another look. The interplay of color,light, and texture is exceptional.The fact that he uses to bird's posture to display these things makes me marvel. The cant of the bird's head, slightly pulled back,suggests it is glaring at hte falconer's face, defiant, but unafraid. This supports the wing position and feathers askew as if the falcon had just returned from a bate.The painting is captivating.
Post a Comment