This bust is in our living room. You can see the profile of it in my banner above! His name’s Charlie. We inherited him years ago from my husband’s elderly uncle who was from Ireland. He was caked with grime from being in a basement when we received him.
Recently, my brother, the Art major, restored him for me. He took him home, cleaned him up, and gave him an alabaster glow. He even made the marble base for me with his name. On the back, my brother discovered the bust was made in 1886 (tried to get a pic for you but it wouldn’t come out!) and had the sculptor’s initials as well as the name of the person: Charles S. Parnell.
Clueless as to who he was and why so important to our Irish uncle, we googled him! Charles was considered a national hero for succeeding in leading Ireland to Home Rule. His career was sabotaged by being involved with a divorced woman. Scandalous in the day, to us no big digs! In the end, under opposition, he stuck with his woman, married her, and died in her arms.
Charlie, you deserve a place of honor in our house, you hopeless romantic!
8 comments:
Wonderful! And so great that it has a family story with it...
xoxo,
Mary
Oh! I think he is fabulous! To have such a wonderful piece with such a story is just perfect!
Smiles,
Abbie
Where have all the romantics gone??
What a great story to go with the bust! I can see why Charlie has a place of honor in your home:>)
thank you for your visit and comment! Yes, sharing our decorating is so fun!
We are going through this kind of thing! My Father-In-law passed away suddenly a few months back and while cleaning out the house, The Hub kept saying "This was in Grandma's house, but I don't know anything about it". Great. And no one to ask...
Thanks for stopping by to visit...come back anytime!!
Cassie
Hi Tara thanks for stopping by my blog. Look forward to getting to know you via blogland.
Alison
He is glorious! To have such a piece is a pure treasure!
Ah romance!
Hugs,
Sue
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