Things from the past

Local artist and friend Brian McKenzie was recently responsible for a display involving ancestors of mine as part of the 2019 Nunhead Art Trail. McKenzie curated a collection of artefacts relating to the long forgotten story of 'the Beast of Brockley'. This beast was in fact a great great uncle of mine and the tale is one of woe. His peaceful existence in the wooded vales in and around Hatcham (now Brockley and Nunhead) was brought to a sudden end in 1872 by an enraged and vicious crowd after a supposed attack on a young woman out walking near One Tree Hill. I'm showing here some images of the wonderful and remarkably still intact victorian diorama that was made to mark the event. This along with a delicate drawing by John Ruskin formed the key elements of the display at Aquarius Golf course clubhouse. Do check Biran's blog for more on this.

Anatomy lesson

Here's a fascinating image kindly sent to me by curator of the Dittrick Medical History Museum, Mr. Gustav Schmitt who is a regular blog visitor and recently travelled all the way from Cleveland Ohio to see me for a chat in the Holborn Library exhibition just a few weeks ago. We had a very interesting talk and he mentioned at the time this rare lithograph from the Libraire Alain Brieux in his collection which seems to depict students studying the anatomy of a Bosci like character. I wonder whether this is my great Uncle Rosci who travelled extensively over Europe and died under mysterious circumstances. It's such a beautiful delicate print and a fine example of the lithographers art.

Images and stories from blog visitors are always most welcome.

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HOLBORN LIBRARY, LONDON

For the recent longest time I have been resident in a fascinating 1950's library in central London. It's a super building and Camden council agreed to my request to use the lower now closed off archive and children's library basement area as a place to continue my research and investigations into all things. For the next two weekends (Fri to Sun Nov. 3,4,5 and then 10,11,12) a local adult education establishment called Morley College, just over the River Thames in Southwark/Lambeth, have taken over some of the library spaces to show artwork by the college's tutor's. I met with many of these folk and have enjoyed seeing what they've done and find them a delightful bunch of artists showing intriguing work on the whole. During the exhibition dates you'd be welcome to come and visit me and discuss my work and latest discoveries. I have a small cupboard space in the basement.

Here's a link to the Morley College/Holborn Library website.

and some pictures of the spaces now full of art.

The impressive entrance area

Lift to the Basement

Steph Buttle and myself discussing the spaces

Organiser Peter Baxter

The library is much loved and used well by the local community

Another look-alike

Another image found on the internet sent for my Look-alikes page.

Thanks to follower Edna Basket Brown for sending this in. 

Evidence of my growing fame?

I have more thanks to send to two blog followers who have sent me images from the internet and strangely both relating to flying Bosci's. An old post on this blog (find it via the 'Older posts' button at the bottom of the page) tells about my making of my own range of rubber toys. It seems that my fame has reached far enough that I am blessed with the dubious honour of having someone make bootleg (unofficial) copies of my product! Almo Prendagast from Arkansas USA sent me these images found on E-Bay of a crude hard plastic version of a flying Bosci. 

Secondly here is a smashing old polaroid for my 'Lookalikes' page, found on Pinterest and sent by Walter from Skjolden in Norway.

Thanks for these and here's a reminder of my Flying Bosci toys in their packages, available for purchase via this blog.

Objects from the Cuming Museum, London

I must post a big thankyou to someone who has sent me a gift. Apparently Mr. Roland Pangborn from Nichols Canyon Rd. California is a regular follower of my blog and he has kindly sent me a postcard he came across in a yard sale recently. Mr. Pangborn is a postcard collector but managed to relinquish this one and send it to me. I have a section here on my blog (one of the 'other pages') of look-alikes. Several of these are images followers have found and passed on to me. This one will be joining them. 
This postcard shows two interesting archeological artifacts called 'Billy and Charley's'. One seems to be a representation of me although these lead sculptures were from a long time back. 

My investigation has revealed that William (Billy) Smith and Charles (Charley) Eaton were two nineteenth century forgers who made fake 'mediaeval' leaden figures and medallions that they then 'found' in the Thames. These two are in the collection of the Cuming Museum in South London.

Guatemalan Flying Frog...a chance to see my specimens

Heres news of an imminent opportunity to meet me and more importantly see 'in the flesh' the amazing collection of interesting animal and ghost specimens that have come into my possession and which I have been restoring.
On the weekend of March 19 and 20, 2016 I shall be making available for viewing these remarkable items as part of the Telegraph Hill Open Studios in South London UK. I currently live in the house of artist Brian McKenzie and he is taking part in this annually occuring event. Here is a link with info about the event including map and address....

http://telegraphhillfestival.org.uk/open-studio-2016/

Moving on now....
In my last post I mentioned the frog specimen. Here is the jar as it was when I took possession; incredibly murky but definitely containing an intriguing looking something!

I decided to research and then tackle the restoration of the specimen. I carefully removed the wax sealing material and forced off the long-sealed glass stopper lid. Inside was old preserving alchohol which smelt ghastly and tasted foul. I poured this away to reveal the remarkable critter within. It was quite robust and I was able to handle and gently clean it without causing any major damage.

The creature does, as described on the label, appear to be a frog with wings.

Its eyes are on stalks like a snail.

I refilled the original jar with pure preserving achohol and gently replaced the little being into the jar as quickly as possible to avoid any untoward dissintergation. Here it is now viewable in its full nature. Please come to visit next weekend and see this and the other extraordinary specimens I will make available for display.