Category Archives: amusements

amusements

April Auction Oddities

Another of our occasional round-ups of the odd and amusing from amongst the lots at our local auction houses. As always I am amused by the strange things people sell, but even more by the weird combinations of items which are put together to make a lot.
Eight crowns and a tape measure in a silver plated mount.
A carton containing 125 boxes, each containing two necklaces in magnetic, hematite and freshwater pearls (ie. 250 necklaces, but this number has not been checked), ex shop stock from Harvey Nichols.
Two bisque figurines of children holding a cat and a dog, a further bisque figurine of a child with a wobbly head, three 1930’s lustre style figures of dolphins with scantily-clad maidens, and a risqué bisque figurine of a woman.
A cased mah-jong set, figurine of two cats in a basket, a Goebbel figurine of children … a Bossons head, Christopher Lawrence mushroom ornament, three silvered graduated vases and two military nose cones.
Royal Crown Derby box and cover, a Spode twin-handled mug commemorating the ruby anniversary of The Lords Taverners, two Swarovski oyster shells with simulated pearls, glass paperweight to celebrate the 125th anniversary of The Choral Society, a Royal Doulton character jug, WG Grace, limited edition No. 2701 … a cased set of cutlery and another of knives, cut glass decanter, a Bohemian glass decanters, six small wine glasses … two Portmeirion bowls, two Buckingham Palace mugs, silver plated tray, a large brass Davy lamp and a similar, smaller.
A small quantity of Wedgwood basalt china including neo-classical vase, dish and cover; also three blue and white Wedgwood jasperware pots and covers, seven Banbury Mint classic RAF plates, a pair of ebony elephant bookends, a metal casket for holding ashes, a Sylvac bunny planter, four glass Venetian overlaid coloured glasses, a pair of old skates, a pair of glass candlesticks and other decorative glass and ceramic items.
It was the Sylvac bunny planter that I think crowned this for me!
A large collection of Pendelfin rabbit figurines including a large figurine holding a baby, house figurines, rabbits and bears playing tambourines, etc.
A quantity of model boats including sailing, three decorative pistols, several old ashtrays, two stoneware hot water bottles, Kodak Brownie camera, a box of decorative ornaments, including dog and polar bear figurines, wooden globe, Yamaha keyboard, prints, commando magazines, decorative dagger, two decorative blunderbusses, and other decorative items.


Example illustration, not the item in the sale

A 19th century blue and white toilet pan, a black and gilt Arklow Pottery coffee service, boxed, Doulton jardinière and a large boxed timer.
A pair of carved hardwood Balinese winged deities, and a pair of Balinese spears.
An old leather doctor’s bag, an old leather briefcase and a wicker picnic basket and contents.
Fossilised Scotch Eggs anyone?
A large ceramic pig.
Every home should have one!
A large quantity of wooden curtain rings.
An American WWII bombsight sighting head type T-1-B by the AC Spark Plug Div. GMC, with E-1 roll-stabiliser by the Sperry Gyroscope Co Inc, retaining glass panel.
A Second World War British helmet stamped F&L C1466 and dated 1940, with camouflage net.
Two racing pigeon timing clocks: signed Toulet Imperator and Belgica, in wooden cases, and a photograph of Gay Tie, bred and raced by JW Brown.
Seven hand typed volumes dated 1940’s, with accounts of the Second World War, in Polish.
A stuffed and mounted magpie and a thrush (?) and a small circular stool on three animal hoof feet and legs.
A green revolving typist’s chair.
Yes, in my experience typists usually are revolving, but not always green.

amusements, science

Oddity of the Week: Poronkusema

A contender for probably Feedback’s favourite-ever unusual unit arrives in an email from Mark Dowson, and it has the more unusual cachet of likely great antiquity. Apparently, reindeer are unable to walk and pee at the same time: they have to pause at set intervals of distance.
In Finnish, this interval is known as poronkusema or “reindeer’s piss” and was an old-fashioned description of rural distances. By Mark’s calculation, it is about 320 blue-whale-lengths.


This is a WikiFact, but it seems almost too nice to be true. So Feedback asked a friend — the Finnish journalist Heikki Jokinen. He confirms that it is used in Lapland and was delighted to be diverted from other work to discover its actual value, which is about 7.5 kilometres for a reindeer drawing a light sledge — and that it is important: reindeer eating lichen produce urine as strong as battery acid, he says, and they get sick if deprived of their comfort breaks.
From “Feedback”; New Scientist; 22 March 2014