Artist: Peter Calvesbert
Made In: England
Status: Fixed Edition
Gold Edition Size: 750
Carving Date: 2008
Release Date: 6/3/2008
In Store Date: 8/25/2008
Dimensions (Inches): 2 x 2.25 x 3.5
Secrets:
To honor the 2008 U.S. Presidential election, Master Carver Peter Calvesbert has carved the Democrat and Republican mascots, both popularized by 19th century editorial cartoonist Thomas Nast. Peter’s political animals – “Ebony” the donkey and “Ivory” the elephant - are stand-alone pieces, but the shape of their bases allows them to face off in head-to-head battle. At the time of carving, the Democrats were still undecided who should lead them into the election, so both Barack and Hillary get a mention in the donkey. However, the letter B is atop the letter H due to Obama’s lead. The inscriptions on the donkey lid mark the passing of Humphrey Lyttelton. A famous British jazz musician, he was also known as chairman of “I’m sorry I haven’t a clue”, a BBC series describing itself as “an antidote to panel shows” and simply the funniest thing on radio. It began in 1972 and has become an English institution.