Manic Light | people, places, stories

Rare Toys

2011-06-13T18:13:00.008+03:00

In our days, the kids are playing computer games or they are watching TV. The girls have Barbies and the boys have plastic monsters. But let’s see how children played and with which toys they played from early history. From the earliest very primitive home-made toys, to exquisitely dressed dolls and toy soldiers representing wars across the world.

A very rare and important late 17th/early 18th century wooden English doll with carved head and delicately painted features including three beauty spots, with nailed-on fair hair held by an elaborate banding on the back of the head with a metal clasp, the jointed and painted wooden body in original clothes comprising a white cotton shift, yellow and wool petticoat, spotted brown open robe and underskirt, with pink silk damask fichu above a mid-blue silk boned corset and with wine velvet mittens and shallow-crowned broad-brimmed straw hat with blue ribbons, with wine knitted silk stockings and rose knitted garters and suede shoes.This doll has passed by family descent to the present owner. In the early 18th Century the Wedgeborough family, from whom the doll came, were in partnership with the Hope family as timber merchants doing business in Amsterdam. This doll is believed to have been brought back from Amsterdam at that time.Only 23 dolls of this type are known; this doll is described as Figure 2 in the article by Bunny Campione which was published in ‘Dolls, The Collector’s Magazine’ June/July 1992 issue, and also ‘Puppenmagazine’ December 1992.

A fine Jumeau Carrier-Belleuse Triste child doll with large fixed blue glass eyes, shaded lids, pierced applied ears, softly painted brows with brush strokes at the tip, open-closed mouth with white line between the lips, long fair hair wig and jointed composition body, 1880s, impressed 15 and stamped in blue on body ‘Jumeau Medaille d’Or Paris’.In 1879 the French Emperor’s sculptor, Albert-Ernest Carrier-Belleuse was commissioned by Jumeau to fashion an epicene head, to be used as that of either boy or girl. Carrier-Belleuse is reputed to have used a portrait of King Henry of Navarra at age four as model and the design became known as Jumeau Triste.This doll belonged to one of two sisters, Evelyn and Saphia Oakey who lived in France as children. Their father was the inventor of Emery cloth and started a firm called English Abrasives in Wellington Mills which was south of Waterloo station, which existed until approximately 20 years ago.

A Roullet et Decamps ballet dancer automaton with Jumeau bisque head, original costume, on velvet-covered base with going-barrel movement playing one air and causing the figure to pirouette in a circle while looking from side to side, alternately bending at the waist and balancing with her left leg, late 19th century.

A rare Vichy automaton of a pumpkin eater with papier-mâché head, in original brocaded silk waistcoat with high collar, figured black silk back and mother-of-pearl buttons, apron, chef's hat, breeches and striped wool stockings, on circular base with going-barrel movement playing two airs, late 19th century. One of the rarest figures produced by Vichy, the Pumpkin Eater displays a darker humour than usual in French automata of this period. The figure waves his left arm and lowers his head to watch the pumpkin, the central section of which opens three times to reveal a mouse. On the third occasion he attempts to kill the mouse by plunging the knife into the pumpkin while his hat rises simultaneously. The pumpkin closes and the sequence begin again.

Pat and Nora Teddy Bears - 'Pat', a rare black Steiff teddy bear, circa 1910; and 'Nora', a Strunz teddy bear with pale blonde short mohair and white wool skirt, knitted white jumper, underwear and boots with a silk parasol, 1908;

A Jeu des Montagnes de la Terre, France, (Game of Mountains of the Earth), maker’s mark E.G., a paper-covered globe in the centre with two sailing and two steam/sailing ships going around. Famous mountains mentioned include Everest, Kilimanjaro and Mont Blanc, late 19th century.

A rare and fine French pull-along toy of Punchinello riding the moon, when pulled the turning wheels cause Punch to move his head and the moon wiggle his tongue.Punchinello, Pulcinella, often called Punch in English, Polichinelle in French, is a classical character that originated in the ‘commedia dell'arte’ of the 17th century and became a stock character in Neapolitan puppetry. His main characteristic, from which he acquired his name, is his extremely long nose, which resembles a beak.

A Masudaya (Japan) tinplate Non-Stop ‘Lavender’ Robot, battery-operated, lithographed tinplate with box lid, late 1950s, early 1960s.One of the famous ‘Gang of Five’; five Masudaya robots of the same shape, with different designs: Non-Stop, Target, Radicon, Sonic and the rarest Machine Man.

A fine Schuco (Germany) clockwork Charlie Chaplin, tinplate, part flock coated and felt clothes, in original box with illustrated lid, 1930s.

A German wooden boxed folding schoolroom for the Spanish market with seven desks, clock, calendar, alphabet, blackboard, maps of the Canaries and Balearics, picture of Saint Luis Gonzaga and a telephone, the six pupils and teacher of painted composition, one child modeled kneeling and weeping into her pinafore, early 20th century.

A Märklin tinplate and china Bathroom with bath, sink, shower, mirror and towel rail, concealed water tank in back wall, allowing water to run from taps and shower, painted floor to represent tiles, 1920/30s.

German Elastolin WW2 Propaganda toys – a composition Adolf Hitler saluting with podium, a wooden SA Heim head quarters building, twenty three Hitler youth band including mounted and flag bearer, late 1930s.

An 'Al Jolson' working model coin-operated automaton, with three black articulated papier-mâché figures in original costumes, two playing guitars and the central figure singing, the electric motor with record player and speed control causing the three figures to rock from side to side, the guitar players to move their eyes and strum, the singer to move his arms and lower lip, in glazed oak case with draped fabric interior, painted topflash, speaker and a removeable matching base with cast iron lion's paw feet.American Al Johnson (May 26, 1886 – October 23, 1950) was a Russian born singer who used to black-up in the American minstrel style. He was one of the most famous entertainers in the 1920s-30s and was the star of the first full-length talking movie “The Jazz Singer”; his most famous hit songs were “Swanee” (1919) and “My Mammy” (1927).

The collection belongs to Sofia Fundation Greece.

Circus Maximus

2010-06-07T15:53:00.006+03:00

Pope Benedict 16th visited Cyprus on Friday 4th of June 2010 for a three day visit.
Political or religious visit, in a country with a majority of orthodox Christians, Pope was not welcomed by few bishops, priests and most Greek Cypriots.

Pope got a Cyprus stamp, website, special flight and a 500,000 euro bulletproof car.

On the other hand, almost 25.000 Catholics and Maronite (Eastern Rites Catholic) from the entire world came to support and see Pope Benedict

Franz came from Austria. I told him that Rome is closer than Cyprus, but for him the distance is not a problem. He went on Australia, on 2008 to see the Pope.

Pope Benedict’s T-shirts, caps, key holders and badges were sold to every fan.

After Great Divine Liturgy, people attended to the mass, were dancing and singing, and made photos to remember this event. Heeeeeyy, Papaaaaaa! or Be-ne-dic-to, Be-ne-dic-to! was said instead of “smile”

My eyes, your world

2010-04-10T23:15:00.022+03:00

“My eyes, your world” was a photographic project based on qualities and senses of 6 persons which have vision disabilities.
A creative activity which had as purpose a visual exercise of the blind persons, to determine the connection between the subject which is photographed and how they imagine it, the socialization and self discovery.
* All the pictures were made by the participants.

Eleni , 28 years old – “If I could see, maybe I’ll be disappointed”

Italian teacher, she likes swimming, reading and traveling. She visited Russia, Italy, Saudi Arabia, and Greece. “In every country I was it smells different. Smelling gives me memories: England smells as humidity. The poverty smells like onion".

She recognized all the money. About Romanian money she said: “It looks like money but they are strange. Are they fake?”

"I feel open, free, calmness and clean at the seaside. I like the sound of the children in the water and the smell" said Eleni.

The blouse - Eleni through that might be white or blue!

Nikos, 26 years old – “My eyes does not exist”

“I’m fat” said Nikos laughing. “Nothing is special. Not bad looking or good looking”.

He likes music and playing accordion. He also has as a very developed sense of hearing and smelling.

"It looks like a head; it’s soft, made from leader. I think is black. It has to be darker.

Darker color is not beauty. Green or white is more beautiful" said Nikos.

"I like the mountains more than the sea. I like sitting outside and listen how the birds are singing.

I like the smell of the sea but I don’t like to swim. I’m afraid".

Nikos studied in England. He said that the smell is different, the weather is cold and the beaches have stones, not sand.

Stella, 34 years old

I asked her what this object might be. She touched it and she said: “Panagia mou!” And then she did the cross sign. For me was amazing!

Maria, 30 years old

Maria had many piano and violin concerts in Greece, Finland, France, UK, Spain, Italy, Poland, and Romania (Braila). The reason she dislike Romania is because people don’t speak English.

She has her own piano at home and she loves classic music! So, I tested Maria’s hearing sense.

She recognized very easily Beethoven – The fifth symphony, the Moonlight Sonata and Fur Elise, Strauss – The blue Danube, Chopin – Nocturne, Verdi – Traviata, Ceaikovski – Swan Lake.

Regarding Ballade for Violin and Orchestra by Ciprian Porumbescu, she said: “I think is a Napolitano Canzonetta or maybe a violin concert”

Marina, 31 years old - " I want people to treat me like a normal person"

She knew how to read the watch.

She recognized all the ingredients. Only, she through that the milled pepper might be wheat flour.

She recognized all the materials types: the cotton, the jeans, the leader, the wool, the velvet, the lace.
She touched the silk and she said that is something artificial.

Toni, 25 years old - “Happiness for me is nothing”

She has her own violin and loves to dance.

She through that: cocoa is powder chocolate, coconut is sugar, rise is nuts, salt is sugar, pepper is jasmine, Daphne leaves are olive leaves, cinnamon sticks are biscuits.

Wall People

2010-04-10T21:56:00.005+03:00

The art was on the street for 5 hours, in Nicosia and around the world. People meet to set up the biggest photo mural in town.

Sri Lanka - free, but not free

2010-04-04T15:21:00.005+03:00

For 26 years, Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), a separatist militant organization fought to create an independent state named Tamil Eelam in the North and East of the Sri Lanka island. Both the Sri Lankan government and LTTE have been accused of various human rights violations.
On May 2009, the President of Sri Lanka officially claimed an end to the insurgency and the defeat of the LTTE, following the death of Velupillai Prabhakaran (the founder and leader of LTTE) and much of the LTTE's other senior leadership.
Rajapksa’s election victory (26.01.2010) seems unlikely to move Sri Lanka in the direction of a sustainable peace. Despite vague promises about the need for reconciliation, Rajapaksa’s post-war policies have deepened rather than resolved the grievances that generated and sustained LTTE militancy. While the LTTE’s defeat and the end of its control over Tamil political life are historic and welcome changes, the victory over Tamil militancy will remain fragile unless Sinhalese-dominated political parties make strong moves towards a more inclusive and democratic state.

The Land of the Free

2010-04-01T23:13:00.036+03:00

Thailand – so colorful!

Thailand – so colorful! From skyscrapers to homeless people, from luxuriant restaurants to food cooked on the street, so much traffic but no crashed cars, dirtiness, rats big as cats, lots of smells, hundreds of cables which are on the brink of falling, well known brands and stands with panties and wooden frogs, beautiful women and people who you can't tell if they are women or men, the best pancakes in the world and fried bugs, wild life, white sand and crystal water, poor but happy people - such simplicity that makes you desire to give up your ordinary life and become a fisherman.

40.717 Buddhism temples

Thailand is the 21st most-populous country, with approximately 64 million people. About 75% of the population is ethnically Thai and Chinese mix, 14% is of Chinese origin, and 3% is ethnically Malay; the rest belong to minority groups including Mons, Khmers and various hill tribes.

Totally chaotic, small 'khlongs' or canals are filled with flat boats piled high with fresh produce, each jockeying for position and paddled by ladies ready to stop and bargain at a moment’s notice.

"Art of Eight Limbs" or the "Science Of Eight Limbs" - it makes use of punches, kicks, elbows and knee strikes, thus using eight "points of contact", as opposed to "two points" (fists) in Western boxing and "four points" (hands and feet) used in sport-oriented martial arts.

Santi Chai Prakan Park

Khon is the most stylized form of Thai dance. It is performed by troupes of non-speaking dancers, the story being told by a chorus at the side of the stage.

Over a hundred years ago a Monk named Phra In Tha, from Bo Sang Temple, traveled to the Thai/Burmese border to make meditation. Whilst he was there a Burmese man brought him a hand painted paper Umbrella. On visiting the mans village, Phra In Tha, observed the villagers making the umbrellas and carefully wrote down various procedures that go into making of them.

Returning to Bo-Sang he passed on the information he had gathered and taught his own people how to make these most useful works of art.

Since then, the craftspeople of Bo Sang have developed a wide range of styles for the Umbrellas that have become a very famous part of Chiang Mai heritage.

Candy Factory

Local bakery

Phi Phi - the paradise on Earth

Sighisoara

2009-11-30T21:47:00.007+02:00

Knits, ladies, monks, drummers... can be seen on the narow streets of the fortress.
Medieval concerts, exhibitions, guitar ballads... 3 days of theatre, music and joy make you think that time went back.

People

2009-11-30T21:40:00.003+02:00

Hamletmachine

2009-11-30T21:27:00.006+02:00

The show is the image of a corrupted society, which has no values. Face to face with this society, Hamlet founds a salvation: "I want to became a machine, I want to have arms able for grabing and legs for walking, I don't want to have thoughts and feelings, too. Hamlet doesn't have words anymore, his words are empty. "Not to be" wins in front of "to be".

Peisagem

2009-11-30T21:14:00.008+02:00

Wild Sulina

2009-11-30T20:58:00.010+02:00

Sulina will never be the same again! Peaceful but at the same time wild, old but in the same time contemporaneous. At the first glance, the town does not offer you anything but after a few days you discover more than you think you will.

Cars

2009-11-30T20:48:00.005+02:00

Who doesn't like cars? Fancy, beautiful and with a lot of personality, they used to carry the most demanding gentlemen in places known only by them. The cars hide as many secrets as their owners have.

Doors

2009-11-30T20:43:00.006+02:00

Knock, knock!
Who's there?
Curiosity!
Curiosity who?
Curiosity... to discover your story.

Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

2009-11-30T20:32:00.007+02:00

"How fortunate is the person who can say I'm a Turk" is the believe of the people from TRNC. Located in the north of Cyprus, is recognized only by Turkey. A different world, different language, different habits. A giant flag painted on the sides of Pentadaktylos Mountain range is there to remind, day and night, to everybody their existence.

Operation Atilla

2009-11-29T21:03:00.015+02:00

Atilla was the codename given to the Turkish military invasion of the
island of Cyprus in July 1974, in response to a Greek-inspired coup
d'etat which sought to unite the island with Greece. The war split
the island in two, has created sufferance and has left many marks
which are visible even today.