3/21/2023 0 Comments Harmony gardenPeter has no formal training, but his quirky and humorous animal carvings set the tone for what was to come.During this period, Martin came up with the idea of making his figurines into boxes, and he used an actual tortoise shell as the mould to cast his first box. These early pieces – and similar “animal piles” manufactured by Martin – are very rare, and highly sought after by collectors.As Antiquark grew, Martin realized he needed a Master Sculptor, and in 1990, Peter Calvesbert joined the company. In 1989, he and wife Corinna set out on their own, selling netsuke reproductions to friends and at flea markets. He created a process that made marble resin look like antique ivory, a process now employed by Harmony Kingdom. His passion was Japanese netsuke – the traditional, intricately carved ivory miniatures used as fasteners for kimonos. It was here that Martin developed his artistic skills. After a decade of herding sheep, an injury forced him to take a job in the shipping department of a small company that produces replicas for art museums. Martin Perry, the founder and artistic director of Antiquark, the company that produces Harmony Kingdom figurines, started his career as a shepherd in North Wales. While carving the piece, he heard a radio report about the volcanic eruption on Montserrat, and could have sworn the announcer said “monster rat”! And inside, there is a huge rat, lying on its back, and a volcano belching smoke. There’s a cigarette lighter under the second flipper, inspired by Peter’s beachcombing trip where he found a coastline littered with lighters. This is a morbid reference to the amount of oil that can be extracted from an elephant seal. Less obvious is the Plimsoll line with numerical markings on the belly of one seal. Peter’s trademark mouse is hiding under one of the flippers. Sculpted by master sculptor, Peter Calvesbert, this figure of two female elephant seals is loaded with obscure information. For a generation raised on conspiracy theories, ranging from JFK to X-Files, Harmony Kingdom is a natural.Ī perfect example of these subtleties was the 1998 sudden-death retirement piece, “Aria Amorosa”, pictured above. Every sculpture has its own “inside” joke – literally – hidden messages, concealed creatures, obscure references, and subtle visual puns. Open it up, and one often finds another figure inside, usually something that relates to the exterior. But one can dig deeper, and enjoy it on other, more cerebral, levels. One can admire a Harmony Kingdom box for its craftsmanship, its beauty, and its wit. The highly-detailed and thought-provoking miniature masterpieces are, in fact, the perfect collectible for the paranoid 90’s. Since its current incarnation in 1995, it has grown into a $25 million a year business. The company’s success is almost unimaginable. The popularity of Harmony Kingdom boxes has turned into a tidal wave in North America.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |