David Beck Miniatures

I was at the San Francisco Fall Antiques Show at Fort Mason yesterday. This year's theme of hidden treasures was reflected in many of the dealer booths as well as in the special exhibition. One particular artist captured my attention. David Beck is an American artist who creates a fascinating world of hidden scenes, boxes and drawers that hold secret sculptures, creatures and rooms. He also sculpts these intricate animated creatures that move and wiggle using a crank mechanism or tremble from the simple movement of the object.




 

David Beck was commissioned to create MVSEVM, a sculpture to commemorate the reopening of the Smithsonian American Art Museum in July of 2006. Inspired by the American Art Museum's Patent Office Building, the model opens to reveal miniature artifacts and artworks as well as drawers containing hidden treasures. 
This video gives a wonderful insight into the world of David Beck as well as his thoughts in creating MVSEVM.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hi! I'm Buster Brown. I live in a shoe....

Image
Do you remember Buster Brown shoes? I do. I also remember watching the Buster Brown TV show ... Smilin' Ed's Gang and later Andy's Gang. The shoes were "special." Back in those days I went to Catholic school and the nun's required us to wear shoes ... I mean real shoes ... "oxfords" we called them. Mom bought us Buster Brown shoes 'cause they would last the whole year! The advertising line for Buster Brown was: Hi! I'm Buster Brown. I live in a shoe.  That's my dog Tige. He lives in there too! The Brown S hoe C ompany has been around for over 130 years. Today they also market Famous Footwear and Naturalizers, and they are a contract manufacturer for other shoe brands.  But they are most well-known for the Buster Brown line of shoes. In 190 2, cartoonist Richard Outcault introduced a new comic strip character, a mischievous little rich boy named Buster Brown and his dog Tige. Two years later, at the 1904 St. Louis W...
Read more

Old Lava Stone Church in Kilauea, Kauai, Hawaii

Image
Christ Memorial Episcopal Church, Kilauea, Kauai, Hawaii On our recent vacation to the Hawaiian island of Kauai, we stopped in to this wonderful old church. We had seen is many times, but this was the first time we stopped to look inside. Wow! The hand-carved altar and communion rail are gorgeous! The stained glass windows are equally as beautiful. The Christ Memorial Episcopal Church is located just off the main highway in the town of Kilauea. It is still an active mission church, with services on Sundays and Holy Days. According to the church's website: There is also an interesting history attached to the church itself. As early as 1888 worship services were held in Kilauea ... By 1924 the time had come for a permanent church in Kilauea ... In 1939 the Kilauea Sugar Company deeded the churchyard to Christ Memorial Church and gave the native stone used in the erection of the present building ... The graveyard surrounding the church dates back to the earliest days of ...
Read more

Rosaries, Prayer Books & Religious Medals

Image
It's the time of year when Christians, Catholics in particular, celebrate post Easter rituals like first communion and confirmation.  And June is known as weddings month!  At Vintages we always have a nice selection of vintage religious items like rosaries, medals of saints and the Holy Family, prayer books and pocket shrines.  Below is a sampling of what is currently available. Rosaries with beads of crystal, sterling silver, olive wood and molded glass.  We even have a few that have reliquaries included. Rosary cases, holy water fonts, little plaques with holy pictures and ecclesiastical sayings. Wonderful old miniature prayer books, first communion mementos, and a new testament bible from the early 1700s. Religious medals, pocket crucifixes and shrines.  In addition, we have a large selection of crosses.
Read more