March 22, 2007

Miss Flite's Birds


This is the first in a small group I envisioned. In Dickens' Bleak House, there is an old woman, a minor character; Miss Flite. She frequents the proceedings at the law courts & in particular her interest is in the protracted case 'Jarndyce & Jarndyce'. She has squandered her lifetime waiting for the settlement to come & in that process she has lost a portion of her sanity and other valuable attributes & resources. She keeps a large number of birds with allegorical names like Hope, Youth, Beauty, and Words, Confusion, Jargon, Plunder, Precedent, Despair, Ruin, Sheepskin, Spinach & Gammon to signify the consumption of all things by fruitless law cases.
This little birdcage is 3 - 4 inches tall, made with steel wire, tart tin, chain, a bit of mirror, bell, etc. The bird 'Despair' has escaped although the cage has no door. There was a tiny feather in the bottom, which must have blown away! I'm working on another, similar, but not identical. I'd like to try making a mobile of them.

4 comments:

Kim Carney said...

I love this birdcage and that you were inspired by Miss Flite ... fantasic!

Fun is always in style. said...

Thank you! I love Dickens' ability to convey truth through tragic + humorous characters & situations...

Anonymous said...

I am inspired- not only to create bird sanctuary's but to re-read Dickens! These are lovely and I can't wait to see them all. Do you sell your stuff?

Fun is always in style. said...

Thanks so much kim - I really enjoyed looking at your blog & I'm bookmarking it!

I do sell...on etsy; however, I only have one birdcage right now. Hope to add more soon ~