November 29, 2007: Qing Dynasty Vases

Clodfobble · 11-28-2007, 09:57 PM

What lovely vases these are, wouldn't you agree? These priceless Qing Dynasty artifacts (i.e., dating from the 1600s, for those who aren't up on their Ancient Eastern history) are on display at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge.

Well, not priceless exactly. They are estimated to be worth between £200,000 and £300,000. And they are only recently back on display, having been out of the public eye for almost two years.

Because in January 2006, a poor gentleman named Nick Flynn tripped on his shoelaces.

Not a bad restoration job! The initial cleanup operation took two and a half days. Better make sure you have every little sliver, right? Then the pieces were slowly taped back together by a professional restorer, bound with a special adhesive, and given a new coat of enamel.

Along with the dramatic return debut came a shiny new display case, as seen above. It would seem the museum has found a more appropriate item to display in its completely unprotected window niche on the staircase.

Aliantha · 11-28-2007, 10:10 PM

omg...imagine smashing those vases...although he probably got into a lot less trouble than I did for smashing mum's crystal one.

ZenGum · 11-28-2007, 10:38 PM

Oooopsies! I wish someone had been there with a camera to capture the facial expressions as it happened.

Anyone enjoy jigsaw puzzles?
I guess the restorer loved this job, a real challenge for their skill (on a big budget).

Stupid place to put a vase, but this sort of thing is not unusual. I had a job at a university library where one day I had to help a manager remove a painting from the wall in a stairwell because someone had woken up to the fact that it was worth perhaps $20,000 ... no protection whatsoever... with grubby teenage students all around.

ViennaWaits · 11-28-2007, 11:25 PM

Is it just my sleepy eyes or does the one in the center look to be little cockeyed at the top?

smurfalicious · 11-29-2007, 07:29 AM

"cockeyed".

who the fvck came up with that phrase? Does one look unbalanced when one has a cock in the eye?

Gravdigr · 11-29-2007, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clodfobble

It would seem the museum has found a more appropriate item to display in its completely unprotected window niche on the staircase.

Don't tease me like that! Now I'm just dying to know what that item is!!

Gravdigr · 11-29-2007, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smurfalicious

"cockeyed".
Does one look unbalanced when one has a cock in the eye?

If there's a cock in an eye, there is either two unbalanced people involved, or one very limber unbalanced person.

smurfalicious · 11-29-2007, 08:14 AM

Papa Smurf keeps trying to insert his cock in my ear. I put up with his antics... but if he tries to stick it in my eye, rest assured it will be his ass that will be cockeyed thereafter.

Elspode · 11-29-2007, 11:49 PM

So the restorer had to put *three* vases back together out of the jumbled mass of shards? Fuck.

11-28-2007, 09:57 PM	#1
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	November 29, 2007: Qing Dynasty Vases What lovely vases these are, wouldn't you agree? These priceless Qing Dynasty artifacts (i.e., dating from the 1600s, for those who aren't up on their Ancient Eastern history) are on display at the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge. Well, not priceless exactly. They are estimated to be worth between £200,000 and £300,000. And they are only recently back on display, having been out of the public eye for almost two years. Because in January 2006, a poor gentleman named Nick Flynn tripped on his shoelaces. Not a bad restoration job! The initial cleanup operation took two and a half days. Better make sure you have every little sliver, right? Then the pieces were slowly taped back together by a professional restorer, bound with a special adhesive, and given a new coat of enamel. Along with the dramatic return debut came a shiny new display case, as seen above. It would seem the museum has found a more appropriate item to display in its completely unprotected window niche on the staircase.

11-28-2007, 10:10 PM	#2
Aliantha trying hard to be a better person Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16,493	omg...imagine smashing those vases...although he probably got into a lot less trouble than I did for smashing mum's crystal one. __________________ Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber

11-28-2007, 10:38 PM	#3
ZenGum Doctor Wtf Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Badelaide, Baustralia Posts: 12,861	Oooopsies! I wish someone had been there with a camera to capture the facial expressions as it happened. Anyone enjoy jigsaw puzzles? I guess the restorer loved this job, a real challenge for their skill (on a big budget). Stupid place to put a vase, but this sort of thing is not unusual. I had a job at a university library where one day I had to help a manager remove a painting from the wall in a stairwell because someone had woken up to the fact that it was worth perhaps $20,000 ... no protection whatsoever... with grubby teenage students all around. __________________ Shut up and hug. MoreThanPretty, Nov 5, 2008. Just because I'm nominally polite, does not make me a pussy. Sundae Girl.

11-28-2007, 11:25 PM	#4
ViennaWaits That's some bad hat, Harry. Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 83	Is it just my sleepy eyes or does the one in the center look to be little cockeyed at the top? __________________ There is no smoking on this flight, but you can light up whatever you like once we land in Jamaica.

11-29-2007, 07:29 AM	#5
smurfalicious Tool. Not the band - you are one. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 501 Northlake Blvd., North Palm Beach FL Posts: 329	"cockeyed". who the fvck came up with that phrase? Does one look unbalanced when one has a cock in the eye? __________________

11-29-2007, 08:14 AM	#8
smurfalicious Tool. Not the band - you are one. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 501 Northlake Blvd., North Palm Beach FL Posts: 329	Papa Smurf keeps trying to insert his cock in my ear. I put up with his antics... but if he tries to stick it in my eye, rest assured it will be his ass that will be cockeyed thereafter. __________________

11-29-2007, 11:49 PM	#9
Elspode When Do I Get Virtual Unreality? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Raytown, Missouri Posts: 12,719	So the restorer had to put three vases back together out of the jumbled mass of shards? Fuck. __________________ "To those of you who are wearing ties, I think my dad would appreciate it if you took them off." - Robert Moog

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