Saturday 4 February 2017

Saturday.






You really will have to enlarge this one .  It's a sort of mystery object. It's a  small Early Victorian picture frame made of mother o' pearl with many small birds made from (I think) humming bird feathers. It is contained in a rather larger (and later) picture frame. The question I'd like you to answer is How many birds are there in the picture frame. It's not a trick question. I think I know the answer, but it'll send you mad trying to count them. Must go now, lunch looms, as does Scrabble Club this afternoon.

P.s.  The size of the mother o' pearl  inner frame is  three and a half inches by four and a half inches.

16 comments:

Rog said...

About 12 but the Peacock is outstanding!

Mike said...

Hello Roger. I quite agree that the peacock is the outstanding one, but a good many of the others are very small. I think that, not only are they made of humming bird feathers but some of them are meant to be humming birds. the smaller ones are less than an eighth of an inch long. I have to put on two pairs of specs and then use a torch to see them clearly.

Mike said...

P.s. But don't go mad; you're not too far out.

kippy said...

14.

Crowbard said...

I've just made an appointment with my optician, Mike.

Mike said...

I do hope it helps, Carl.

Maggie said...

I make it 21, although I suspect more but the pictures don't come up very clear on my machine.

Absolutely fell in love with it though, haven't seen anything like it before.

Crowbard said...

I may need more help than new specs to read your latest puzzle, Mike; Santa Lucia might be of some miraculous assistance perhaps.

Crowbard said...

I make it about 25 or possibly 26 birds, but I have no great certainty and wouldn't bet a tanner on it. (2.5 new pence to the younger generation)

Mike said...

Dear sister Margaret. You must have the best eyes in the family (and mine aren't bad for me age). I took the item out into the bright sunlight and wearing me best specs this morning, and I made it twenty one birds; although there have been times when I made it twenty two. However, I'm now about ninety nine per cent certain that the correct number is twenty one - so - well done Maggy!

Mike said...

P.s. Although I've tried to make it clear that I'm no great admirer, in general, of Victoriana, in this case I have to agree with Margaret that it is a delightful little item. More folk-art that Victoriana perhaps?

Mike said...

P.P.S. Or perhaps my tastes are changing/maturing with age?

Crowbard said...

If it is indeed 21 then Rog got it right first with "about 12". When you turn 12 about you get 21 !

Z said...

i've come in too late on this to test my poor old eyes, but it's very pretty.

Tim and I are hoping you will be able to come to this year's blog party and we're asking around to set the date - it's come down to three Saturdays, second half of June or 1st July.

Z said...

Now set for 17th June as that is the only date that suits two of the guests.

Mike said...

Hello Zoe/Tim. As far as we know, we'll be clear on your proposed blog party dates- we'll try and keep them clear anyway.
Regards, Mike and Ann.