Friday, April 17, 2009

CASTLE LIZZADRO


Another of William Tolliday's masterpieces. He created this castle in 1984 as a memorial to James "Chris" Lizzadro, a grandson of the founder of the Lizzadro Museum of Lapidary Art .


On a large slab of Brazilian agate, the 18ct gold castle rises from specimens of amethyst, malachite, azurite and vanadium. His signature diamonds are set as windows. The sculpture in in the museum rotates slowly to music and at the push of a button, the sound of preparations for battle are heard.











11 comments:

JahTeh said...

Sorry Jayne, I stuffed up the link.
http://www.lizzadromuseum.org

Brian Hughes said...

Is it just me or are these things incredibly tasteless? Disney in gold. I doubt that anyone would give if it houseroom if it was made of plastic.

Link said...

Its not just you Fleetwood. Even so, they are quite remarkable. What I really feel the need to say is that warning bells go off for me about the mind that has created them. I'm not sure why. Something to do with such concentrated kitsch, such expensive kitsch, such painstaking kitsch. You gotta ask why? I don't know why. No doubt its highly skilled craft, but it also seems deeply neurotic and for me I cannot look at them without thinking this guy's got a big problem.

JahTeh said...

No, no, not tasteless because they're so tiny. If they were huge then I'd agree with you and potter on over to the lapidary museum, you philistines.

Jayne said...

We got it working ok, J, lol.
Absolutely beautiful.

hazelblackberry said...

Nice to look at,
Lovely to hold -
But if you break it,
Consider it sold.

River said...

e really are extraordinarily pretty. Imagine a whole wall of shelving with discreet lighting to showcase an entire collection.

Brian Hughes said...

Ah...I got the impression from the photographs that they were about the size of a dustbin lid.

JahTeh said...

Jayne, I know the Feral Beast will love the lapidary art.

HB, Four feet away behind bulletproof glass is where I'd be.

River, imagine the sort of house you'd have if you could afford these to start with. I think the next one I have is my favourite.

Fleety, some aren't much taller than Posh's stilleto heels.
By the way, Phil's shorts last week were so short, I'm going to have to stop eating my tea during TimeTeam. It's nice to see that you are always properly attired for archaeological digging work, warm coat and sitting in a car.

Brian Hughes said...

Witchy,

I don't 'dig', I supervise. It's all to do with the strict code of the British class system. As an aristocrat I'm also forbidden to wear tiny shorts that disappear up my crack. This, as far as everybody close by is concerned, is considered a good thing.

JahTeh said...

Fleetwood, very proper and dignified as befits a Lancaster aristocrat but I believe there's a good market out there for Lancaster aristocrats in brief short shorts which could relieve the Fylde and Wyre's monetary distress.

I'd buy one, my old dartboard's had it.