Name:
Day of the Dead Fest
Artist: Peter Calvesbert
Item No: TJEV05DF
Made In: England
Status: Fixed Edition
Carving Date: 2005
Release Date: 8/8/2005
In Store Date: 10/21/2005
Edition Size: 1501
US Issue Price in USD: $75
Dimensions (Inches): 1.8 x 2.5 x 3.1
Secrets & Variations:
For the 2005 event, we have selected the Mexican holiday
“Day of the Dead” as the theme. Day of the
Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, is a holiday very dear
to Noel Wiggins and Lisa Yashon, co-founders of Harmony
Ball Company. It was what brought them to Mexico in
October and November of 1988, when they were still young
and carefree. They had been collecting “Day of
the Dead” figurines in the U.S. and wanted to
find the source of their treasures and to experience
the holiday first hand. Traveling in an old and battered
camper throughout the incredible country of Mexico,
little did they know that their adventure would be the
start of Harmony Ball Company and Harmony Kingdom. To
commemorate the ten year anniversary of The Royal Watch
Collector’s Club, we thought now was the perfect
time to pay tribute to the holiday that started it all.
For those of you that aren’t familiar
with this Mexican holiday, the Day of the Dead is a
colorful, festive, family celebration where people pay
tribute to their deceased loved ones. Flowers, incense,
candles, statuary and photographs adorn grave yards
and home displays called “ofrendas”. There
is always a lot of food and music; a solemn occasion
this is not! Many Harmony Kingdom retailers will re-create
a Dia de los Muertos party for you to experience..
Peter Calvesbert has carved a delightful
box figurine specifically for the occasion. Like previous
autumn events, each piece will be shrink-wrapped so
the joy of discovery will be all yours. The
worldwide edition for “Day of the Deadfest”
is 1501, with 125 vividly painted versions, 275 mold
variations, and a one-of-a-kind jeweled piece!
Here is what Peter says about the holiday
and his event piece: Dia de los Muertos is a Mexican
celebration of loved ones no longer with us. I must
admit I knew nothing about this event before it was
suggested by Noel and Lisa, but now I wish we had something
similar in England. Shrines are often made in houses
and these are decorated with flowers, special breads
and skeleton figures. Noel and Lisa became immersed
in Mexican culture and traditions whilst traveling the
country in their younger days! Lisa kindly furnished
me with these events, which I’ve included as secrets
on this piece.
Chinook (On our first and most
memorable trip to Mexico, Noel and I traveled in a rusty
old Toyota Chinook. Chinook is an Indian word meaning
south wind, which blew us down to Mexico over 15 years
ago).
*
F&D ( For Mexican artists Frida Kahlo and Diego
Rivera – each incredible artists but an even more
amazing couple).
*
A watermelon (Also in homage to Frida and Diego- both
used watermelons in their last paintings before they
died).
*
Rubin (Our Mexican partner, without whom we would have
no business. A four-fingered Vulcan-like character whose
life has been full of tragedy).
*
No Perros/No Mujeres (The sign on the front swinging
door of the first of many cantinas that we frequented.
Not only did the old bartender allow me to stay, he
bought me numerous tequila shots).
*
Guanajuato (A beautiful colonial town with a huge mummy
museum).
*
Real de Catorce (A most beautiful ghost town, more exotic
than anything I have ever dreamed of).
*
Sonora (This is the famous Mexico City witchcraft market,
with things like rattlesnake skins, desiccated hummingbirds,
and aphrodisiac scorpion oil for sale).