Monday, June 25, 2007

Hand Jive



Years ago I was house hunting. My (then) spouse and I had our eye on an eleven-room home that was on the market in my neighborhood. I told Sharon about it and she said she would love to tag along when we went to have a look. As it turned out, it was way too much house for us but touring through the empty rooms proved to be an interesting way to spend the afternoon. Whoever had been there before had left many things behind. One of these items was a stone hand that must have been broken off a statue. Where the rest of the body was one could only wonder. But this hand was very cool—a must-have item. Well, we could not leave it behind as its previous owners had done. As we walked back to my apartment, a bit of a squabble ensued as to who would get this interesting—albeit slightly macabre—keepsake. I seem to remember being the one who discovered it but Sharon has an altogether different recollection of the event. At any rate, I graciously let her have it and I must say it looked lovely displayed on the mantle in her home.

Fast-forward to the present time and here we are, business partners. And what comes around goes around as the hand has taken residence in our studio and we use it often as a prop in our photos. It has served us well and I get to see it every day now. And it is still very cool.



'The Hand' resides in this lovely book case in our studio.



As you can see, it makes an intriguing prop and fits in wonderfully with these time-worn books.



Hmm... something a bit creepy about it.

Ann

4 comments:

Abby Kerr Ink said...

Ha! I enjoyed this post. What is it about hands? I have a fascination with them, too. I sell santos hands of different sizes at my shop. It's interesting to me how some customers will pick them up and hold them out to me with a funny look, as in, "What do you do with THIS?" Others will grab them up and say, " I HAVE to have this!" I guess you either "get" the hand thing or you don't.

Thanks for sharing your story and your photos!

--Abby

Christine Crocker said...

oh I love this! so handsome -the laying on of the hands... the beautiful leather bound books and handsewn rag paper stacks, creeping out from lovely old volumes.
What a wonderful story.

oh, do I get it and oh would I love to have it!

The Feathered Nest said...

I love your hand! To me hands have as much character as a face ~ figural statuary is beautiful and the hand really does look good as a prop! Your journals are so wonderful ~ xxoo, Dawn

Sarah and Jack said...

I recently acquired an old mannequin hand. That thing creeps me out everytime I find it in box, but I plan to use it at Halloween time.