woensdag 21 januari 2015

The Mermaid

This gable with a mermaid was originally placed on the facade of a house built in 1650 on the former firing ranches of the crossbow and longbow militias called the Crossbow alley. She rode the waves, combing her hair with a mirror in her hand. In the 20th Century the house was demolished but the plaque was retained and given a place on the new building. In a subsequent rebuilding the plaque got the current spot in the traverse wall.

Over the years the mermaid was quite polluted and had lost clarity. In 2008 she was given a solid cleanup and has been polychromed.
Linking to Signs, signs

17 opmerkingen:

  1. Reacties
    1. No I suppose not and I must admit I don't like that colours attached to it.

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  2. They did quite a job restoring this, and good that they did. But you are right in that they have lost some of the original feel to it.

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  3. Ze hebben er wel heel wat anders van gemaakt, echt een moderne versie.

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  4. The cleaning process really has changed it.

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  5. She looks wonderful after her 'makeover' Marianne, so glad they've looked after her and not just dumped her.. there's a lot of history attached to the plaque.

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  6. Not the beauty I am used to seeing in mermaids. Too much salt water?

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  7. First from 1650, how wonderful. Where I live our history doesn't go back that far. I'm so happy you shared this and that they saved it! Very special indeed.

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  8. This mermaid must have seen a lot of things during her long life !

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  9. Dearest Marianne,
    Poor Mermaid; she went from a Cup C to a Cup A...
    Hugs,
    Mariette

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  10. The mermaid is much improved. Interesting how the history is kept.

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  11. I think they should just have cleaned her and left her with a clear ....coating?? Not whatever that circus paint is?? Nice to recover her though.

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