Long Live the Queen (and Toy Soldiers)

Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 Coronation.

These are from Knights of Avalon, a site run by a collector of lead toy soldiers.  

Toy Soldiers

Love these - mono colors.

This one is stamped "Made in Occupied Japan"

Really Beautiful, Awesome Ships in Bottles

I love these models.  These are all from  Ships in Bottles.   They are built by a couple that lives on a forty foot sailboat (Gabrielle Rogers and Stefan Auer).  After posting them I realized that one reason I like them had to do with the movement suggested.  Many ship in bottle models (which are not without  charm, show the ship only - no water or scenery.  I also like the clean simple glass pieces in which they are built.  Very beautiful.

1930s Juggling Batons. Red, White and Blue

 These are pretty cool.  Saw them on 1st dibs.  I have some desire to replicate these in miniature (1/12th 

scale) so be on the look out.  The trick will be to get the aging and imperfections right.

Two Buglers

Picked up these toy soldiers last weekend from the  West 25th Street Flea Market.  The arms are movable and allow the soldier to lift the bugle to his mouth.   I haven't been able to find the manufacturer.  It might be Britains.  Anyone have any idea?

Photos by Tom Casesa

Notice the movable arms that lift the bugle to the soldier's lips.

March 1 Update.   I wrote to specialist Jim Hillestad of  The Toy Soldier Museum, who was kind enough to identify these for me.  They are from a 12 piece set made by W. Britains, called Line Infantry Band Review Order (set # 27).  They were made between 1946 and 1955.

I found a full set in nice condition on an Dakota Paul, who sell antiques.  Here are some photos from the listing (which inclues the original box).

Sailor Made Ship Model with Stand

Source: 1st Dibs.com.  Description from site:

Antique Toy Theater

Here's a nice find from Nick Haus, a blog written by Nick Heywood who is an interior architect from Rhode Island.  Thanks Nick.

Some of the finest crappy taxidermy

This is from the site Crappy Taxidermy, where as advertised, you can see bizarre and often subpar taxidermy (although the above diorama ain't too bad).   Enjoy

Nautical diorama lamp

This is from a listing on Etsy.  The listing says it's an antique,  I wonder how old it is.  I think its very cool. Especially when there's a bulb in the socket... two glass orbs with some symmetry - suggestive of an hour glass.

The Woman in Black

The Woman in Black, pencil drawing by Tom Heyman of Woodstock, NY.

Susan Hill's book, The Woman In Black, is getting a lot of attention lately due to the soon to be (Feb 2012) film of the same name.  I first came across the story when I saw the play in London many years back, and it has stayed with me ever since.  I was able to get a copy (it was not that easy, believe me) of the 1989 television film, which I still enjoy very much.  It's old style creepy - not reliant on explosions and computer graphics.  After seeing the film I commissioned a drawing from the late Tom Heyman, of Woodstock, NY.  I present both the final drawing and its first version on this posting.  If you haven't yet read the book, it might be one of those that will be more enjoyable before seeing the new film. 

Speaking of great ghost and horror stories, if you haven't seen it (in spite of our immense global readership  - over 17 subscribers and counting) please take note of an earlier posting on ventriloquist dummies, that includes information on the classic film Dead of Night.  This is a film not to be missed. 

Images from the 1989 TV film:

From the forthcoming (February 2012)  The Woman in Black, with Daniel Radcliffe.  I'm very interested to see this film.  I hope it lives up to its predecessor, and to the novel.  From trailer and publicity images, it looks very promising. 

First draft of The Woman in Black by Tom Heyman.

I came across this poem, which captures the spirit of the story.  Its author, Harry Boslem, says it is loosely based on a classic ghost story (I assume to be our story as it is published along side a still from the 1989 film).

  The Woman in Black

She stalks me in the heat of the night,
A silhouette among the shadows,
She dances with the candlelight,
And speaks through my written memos,
I see her spirit in my mirror,
Mocking me with silent whispers,
Gone again with a moment's quiver,
One of these nights she will deliver.

I dread to sleep, I avoid my dreams,
I fear the spectre in the mourning dress,
This woman in black who haunts me,
With her evil, twisted, hellish face,
She comes and goes like a whispered word,
Traveling through the sands of time,
I fear so much, her spoken curse,
As it travels on the howling wind.

I have seen my fate written in her eyes,
It troubles me to know my truth,
If the whispers come again tonight,
They may just whisper to me, my death.
I fear the shadows twilight brings,
To my rooms unguarded boundaries,
And I feel my terror kindling,
Burning, nightmare images.

If only I could lift this curse,
I've tried so hard to break her spell,
But the words I chant just make it worse,
And God won't answer my appeal.
I fear there's no escape for me,
I fear it's her who holds my fate,
For the gypsy girl that I set free,
My fate will be to fill her grave.

By Harry Boslem
Published: 8/23/2010