Showing posts with label Spider. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Spider. Show all posts

Friday, March 2, 2007

spiderhands

@ the auction of the Dime Museum in Baltimore.
Yes, I heart all of it.




51
HAND OF SPIDER LILLIE - Cased mixed media; created by R. Horne; aged; case: 5 1/2" x 10" x 7", EX. Est. 600-800 RIGHT HAND OF SPIDER LILLIE - LILLIAN PITTS OF KENT ENGLAND, A CONVICTED HABITUAL PROSTITUTE, WAS BANISHED TO A PENAL COLONY NEAR SYDNEY AUSTRALIA IN EARLY 1814. A STUDENT OF THE FLORA AND FAUNA OF THIS STRANGE LAND, LILLIAN SOON DISCOVERED THE SECRETIVE FUNNEL-WEB SPIDER, THE MOST POISONOUS SPIDER IN THE WORLD. LILLIAN THEN BEGAN HER CAMPAIGN OF DEADLY REVENGE AGAINST HER BRITISH WARDENS. GATHERING THE EGGS OF HER BELOVED SPIDERS SHE WOULD CONCEAL ONE IN HER FAMILY RING, AND WHEN PLYING HER FORMER TRADE UPON HER CAPTORS SHE WOULD OPEN HER RING, RELEASING THE HATCHLINGS INTO THE HAIR, CLOTHING OR BEDDING OF HER DOOMED PARAMOURS, KNOWING FULL WELL THE EVENTUAL BITE WOULD PROVE FATAL. FOUND OUT AND BETRAYED BY HER TRUSTED CELL-MATE, A MISS KAY CROSS, SHE WAS QUICKLY TRIED AND CONDEMNED TO BE HUNG. IN THE AUTUMN OF 1820 SHE WAS EXECUTED, AND HER INFAMOUS HAND AND IT'S HORROR BEARING RING WERE PLACED UPON A POLE IN THE HOT SUN OF THE PRISON COURTYARD AS A WARNING TO OTHERS CONSIDERING SUCH TREASON. THE HAND WAS TAKEN BY OFFICER HOWARD MAY, AND KEPT IN THE FAMILY UNTIL 1952 WHEN IT WAS DONATED TO OUR NOBLE INSTITUTE. REF. M. A. 1808

http://www.opferauction.com/sales/oaSale_022607_2.php