Mr. Earbrass Delivers Gifts

 

To celebrate our 42nd anniversary, my husband Bill Campbell once again has surprised me with another Mr. Earbrass toy that he created (to see the toy figure Bill made me last year, Mr. Earbrass Plays Croquet see my post from January 15, 2021 HERE).

Taking inspiration from an Edward Gorey Christmas card image, we find the intrepid Mr. Earbrass in his finest holiday apparel, braving the elements to deliver gifts to his friends. Completely made by hand, this new Earbrass figure is also an old fashioned toy "rocker" that pivots on an interior spring. Bill has been experimenting with this style of toy and Mr. Earbrass bobbles front to back and side to side when touched. Each of the gifts he holds is a small wooden box that Bill created and filled with noise making baubles that rattle when the figure is set in motion. You can also turn the head to face in different directions.

 

The rocking motion brings the figure to life, giving the impression that Mr. Earbrass is barely keeping his balance on the icy terrain.

The gift giving Mr. Earbrass joins the previous Mr. Earbrass Plays Croquet incense smoker. When Bill sculpted the head for the first figure, he made a mold so he could create multiple heads as needed. 

While photographing the new toy, the camera caught  Mr. Earbrass' theatrical entrance to the proceedings, looking rather like a candy striped ghost from a production of A Christmas Carol in his native Mortshire.  

 

Gorey Secrets

 

Gorey Secrets by Malcolm Whyte is a veritable treasure trove of behind the scenes information about the many inspirations and influences Edward Gorey drew upon to create his unique books. Concentrating on more than two dozen volumes written and illustrated by Mr. Gorey, Mr. Whyte goes in depth to explore the origins of ideas, and traces visual imagery.

Perhaps the most astounding bit of detection is the backstory behind The Lost Lions, Or Having Opened The Wrong Envelope, a book Edward Gorey self published in 1973 through his Fantod Press imprint. While I am not going to repeat the backstory here, Mr. Whyte's investigative determination to get to the root of this tale is what makes Gorey Secrets such a pleasure to read.