Waterford UNICORN PEGASUS SWAN PHOENIX CAROUSEL & MORE NIGHTINGALE/Legends & Lore COLLECTION CHILDREN OF LIR Start Price USD 1,150.00 Current Price USD 1,150.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, December 01, 2008 End Time Wednesday, December 31, 2008 Location malibu, CA See more about 'Waterford UNICORN PEGASUS SWAN PHOENIX CAROUSEL & MORE' Description A RARE FIND THE COMPLETE LEGENDS & LORE COLLECTION - ALL SIX FIGURINES "THE UNICORN" / "THE NIGHTINDALE" / "THE PEGASUS" / "THE PHOENIX" / "THE SWAN" / "THE CAROUSEL HORSE" _____________ WE OFFER FOR AUCTION A STUNNING WATERFORD CRYSTAL SOCIETY COLLECTION FIRST THROUGH THE SIXTH EDITION ISSUES IN THE "LEGENDS & LORE COLLECTION" "CHILDREN OF THE LIR"  STATUES/PAPERWEIGHTS EACH COMES WITH ITS ORIGINAL BOX, PAPERWORK, CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY & BASE. THE PHOENIX COMES WITH ITS BASE ONLY.   The Certificate of Authenticity accompanying this figurine tells its story. It reads: For thousands of years the unicorn has fascinated people the world over. Ancient Egyptians and early Christians alike portrayed it in their art; Asians honored it as the "king of the land of animals"; ancient Greeks and romans describe its exploits in their mythology. Inspired by both the legendary stories of this elusive creature and its physical and spiritual beauty, Waterford Crystal has created a sculpture of exquisite glistening crystal known as the Unicorn to be the sixth edition in the Legends & Lore Collection from the Waterford Society. Gaius Julius Caesar penned one of the first reports of the existence of the unicorn in Europe in the Latin manuscript Bellum Gallicum (50 B.C.): "It looks lie a deer with a single horn on the middle of its forehead." In medieval times, the unicorn’s horn was revered for its magical healing powers. A powder made from the hor was supposed to neutralize poison. In fact, for the people who lived in medieval times, the existence of the unicorn was just as certain as the stories of the Bible. Through the centuries, this fabled horse with the rope-like horn has stood for many things: it was believed to be the guardian of the Tree fo Life and the embodiment of purity, honestly and wisdom. As a symbol of the moon, the unicorn belonged to the Greek Artemis, virgin goddess of the moon and the hunt (also known to the Romans as Diana.) The belief that a unicorn’s pride would prevent it from being captured alive inspired weavers to "capture" this creature on numerous tapestries during the Middle Ages. In fact, some of the most valuable tapestries ever woven and preserved today pay tribute to the unicorn: the six Gothic tapestries of the 1500s called The Lady and the Unicorn (at the Cluny Museum, Paris) and another famous set known as The Hunt of the Unicorn (at the Cloisters museum, New York City). In some contexts, the counterpart of the unicorn was the lion. Together they became emblems of great clashes and were incorporated into numerous formal crests. With the unicorn symbolic of spring and the lion of summer, the outcome of their altercations were said to influence the seasons of the year. It is the vision of the unicorn as a creature of majesty and purity that inspired the Waterford Society’s Unicorn. Simple, yet powerful sculpting focuses on what the written word most often tells us about this king of all animals: a powerful body, flowing mane, and magical horn. Unmistakable in this unicorn’s face is the compassion, peace and good luck he is said to impart to all who encounter him. The Unicorn is the sixth edition fo the Legends & Lore Collection and will be produce I a limited edition reserved exclusively for Waterford Society members. This members-only issue is available only by special order through an authorized Waterford Society dealer." This figurine was produced in reserved limited editions exclusively for Waterford Society members. _____________ WE OFFER FOR AUCTION A STUNNING WATERFORD CRYSTAL SOCIETY COLLECTION FIFTH EDITION ISSUE IN THE "LEGENDS & LORE COLLECTION" "THE UNICORN"  "CHILDREN OF THE LIR"  STATUE/PAPERWEIGHT  WITH BASE This figurine was produced in reserved limited editions exclusively for Waterford Society members. The Certificate of Authenticity accompanying this figurine tells its story.         It reads: "For centuries, the immortals of Olympus - the gods and goddesses and mighty creatures of ancient Greece - have mesmerized audiences with their heroic deeds and petty squabbles. One of the most beloved of the mythical beings, perhaps, is Pegasus, the beautiful and gentile flying horse with great snowy white wings who has provided the basis for untold numbers of works of art throughout the ages. Inspired both by the legendary stories of this noble equine and descriptions of its grand countenance, master sculptor Fred Curtis created The Pegasus in glistening crystal as the fourth edition in the Legends & Lore Collection from the Waterford Society. Spawned from the wounds of the Gorgon Medusa, who was fatally wounded by Perseus, a son of Zeus, the newly born Pegasus flew up to join the gods on Mount Olympus. There, he was captured by the goddess Athena, who was able to tame the magnificent horse with a magical, golden bridle. Pegasus was a favorite with the gods and goddesses who lived high on Mount Olympus, and everyone on earth loved Pegasus, too, such was his beauty and gentleness. But no one could ever touch the extraordinary animal. If someone got too close, Pegasus should lift his wings and fly away. According to lore, only one earthbound person ever tamed Pegasus - Bellerophon, a young Greek warrior who was given the golden bridle by Athena before he started out to fight the dreaded monster Chimaera. Bellerophon tamed Pegasus with the bridle, and rode the mythical stallion to conquer the Chimaera and the Amazons, who grew dizzy from trying to grasp the flying horse. Unbeknownst to many, Pegasus has long been associated with the writing of poetry, a legend first established when the Muses were holding a contest of song. The music charmed the streams and made Mount Helicon grow toward the heavens. Poseidon, the god of the sea, ordered Pegasus to make Helicon stop growing by striking it with his hoof. Pegasus did this, and immediately the fountain called Hippocrene sprang forth on the spot. Its waters were believed to inspire people to write poetry. Two other fountains of inspiration, Aganippe and Pierene, were also said to have been created by the hoof of Pegasus. It is the eternal vision of Pegasus about to take flight on one of his heroic journeys that inspired the fourth edition of the Waterford Society Legends & Lore Collection. In this limited edition sculpture, the might of the mythical stallion is captured in his rearing posture and brought to life by all of the finely wrought details of his mane, body and outstretched wings as they are interpreted in pure Waterford crystal. One can fully imagine Pegasus leaping skyward from a promontory on Mount Olympus to catch the bolts of lightning he is said to have carried to Zeus. The Pegasus, fourth edition in the Legends & Lore Collection, will be produced in reserved limited editions elusively for Waterford Society members."   The Certificate of Authenticity accompanying this figurine tells its story.         It reads: "Magic ... mischief ... happy endings. For centuries, fables and fairy tales have mesmerized audiences with wondrous stories of plain and mythical fold. One of hte greatest storytellers of all, perhpa, was Hans Crhistian Andersen, the acclaimed Danish author. "Twas his entrancing tale of a magical little bird, The Nightingale, that has inspired the third edition inteh Legends & Lore Collection from the Waterford Society. Once upon a time - many, many moons ago - the Emperor of China had a splendid garden, which extended so far that the gardener himself did not know where the end was. At the edge of the lawns were silver bells, which sounded so that nobody should pass without noticing the flowers, and beyond the lawn was a glorious forest with high trees and dep lakes. That wood extended straight down to the sea, which ran beneath the branches of the trees, and in the trees lived a Nightingale. So splendid was the Nightingale’s singing that all who traveled to the city of the Emperor came to admire her, and all who heard her voice said it sounded like glass bells. Thus did she come to be introduced at the Emperor’s Court, where she sang so sweetly she brought tears to the eyes of the Emperor, who tethered the Nightingale to silk cords, lest she return to the woods. In honor of the fabled Nightingale, the Emperor of Japan presented to the Emperor of China a mechanical Nightingale, brilliantly ornamented with diamonds, rubies, and sapphires. So physically beautiful was the artificial songbird - who could sing perfectly, albeit one song, that it became the center of attention. All but ignored, the real Nightingale escaped back to the woods. Years passed and the mechanical Nightingale, its springs and cranks worn fragile from much use, could sing but once each year. Then the Emperor fell ill, and as he lay on his bed, scarcely able to breathe because Death sat on his chest, he wished for the song of the Nightingale to drown out Death’s entreaties. Much to his amazement, the little live bird, who had heard of the Emperor’s sad plight, suddenly appeared outside of a branch and began to sing. As the Nightingale sang of the "quiet churchyard where the white roses grow, where the elder-blossom smells sweet, and where the fresh grass is moistened by the tears of survivors," Death felt a longing to see his garden and floated out of the window in the form of a cold white mist. From that day on, bot the Emperor and the Nightingale, now free to come and go as she pleased, lived happily ever after. The Waterford Society’s Nightingale brings to life this heartwarming tale in a brilliant sculpture that celebrates the interpretive powers and crystal-making skills of Waterford’s craftsmen. As the third edition in the Legends & Lore Collection it will be produced in reserved limited editions elusively for Waterford Society members."   The Certificate of Authenticity accompanying this figurine tells its story.         It reads: "For over a century the carousel horse has embodied the essence of what dreams and legends are made of ... magic ... fantasy ... enchantment. Sitting astride a magnificent steed amidst the music and the lights one can become King Arthur’s knight riding to the joust, a princess cantering through the enchanted forest, a cowboy heading over the plains. Delightfully, "Let’s take a ride on the carousel" is like an invitation to explore youthful fantasies. "Twas a charming tale of childhood memories awakened by the magic of a carousel that inspired The Carousel Horse, the Second Edition of the Legends & Lore Collection from the Waterford Society. Once upon a winter afternoon, two sisters take the road less traveled through the playgrounds of their youth as they make their way home from school. Twilight has cloaked the park in a curtain of dusky silver and a light shower begins to sprinkle the earth with glistening droplets. The drizzle reminds them of their mother who used to say that the park was magical in the rain. As the wind swirls around them, the sisters hear a faint whinnying coming from across the park. Following the unexpected sounds, they finds themselves at the carousel they rose in their younger years, the one with the horses that slept all winter and awoke in the spring, according to their mother. As they peek beneath the canvas they are surprised to find the horses moving. They’re alive! In an instant one sister races for her favorite mare, the other for a zebra, and off they soar - above the park on a magical ride. Through their adventure, which ends with the restoration of the magnificent carousel, the sisters learn the importance of the lessons their mother taught them, while they also discover the lasting gift of her love. The magical moments spent whirling through a myriad of lights while perched atop a fiery steed are recaptured by the brilliance of the Waterford Society’s Carousel Horse. Rich in the details that made carousel horses works of art, their limited edition sculpture brings an enchanting modern-day tale to life while paying tribute to the artistic tradition of the carousel horse and the centuries-old crystal making skills of Waterford’s craftsmen. The Carousel Horse is the Second Edition of the Waterford Society’s Legends & Lore Collection. As such it will be produced in reserved limited editions exclusively for Waterford Society members."   The Certificate of Authenticity accompanying this figurine tells its story.         It reads: "Magic bewitchment superstition. For centuries the world of the Celts was rich in mythology and a belief in magic and the supernatural that nurtured one of the greatest legacies of fairy tales and wondrous legends ever to survive. Theirs was a world in which magic was used for good, as well as evil, where supernatural powers drew people into and out of trouble, where bravery, loyalty and honor were intermingled with jealousy, betrayal and death. Twas such myth and legend that inspired The Children of Lir Sway, the first issue in teh Legends & Lore Collection form the Waterford Society. Long ago and in an ancient place beyond setting sun, there lived a powerful King named Lir, whose children were the treasures of his life. Fionnula, his oldest and only daughter, was said to be as beautiful as sunshine in teh blossomed branches, Aodh like a young eagle in teh blue of sky, and their twin brothers, Fiacre and Conn, as beautiful as running water. Everyone in the kingdom loved Lir's four children, except their step-mother, their mother's sister, Aoife, who had married the grieving Lir after his wife's death. Alas, Aoife was unable to have a child of her own and she jealously envied her husband's affection for his children. In a desperate bid to win Lir's attention, she bewitched his adored offspring. As they walked from teh lake where they had been bathing, she struck them with a rod of enchantment, condemning the, to roam Irish lakes for 900 years as sad, yet beautiful swans. Happily, their lyrical voices enchanted all who heard then sing and the spell was broken one day, just as predicted, when a King from teh North wed a Queen from the South; when a druid with a shaven crown came over the seas; and when they heard the sound of a little bell ringing for prayers. The Children of Lir Swan brings to life this mythical tale in a brilliant sculpture that celebrates the interpretive powers and crystal making skills of Waterford Society's Legends & Lore Collection." _____________________ IN PERFECT CONDITION ELEGANT - SPARKLING- BRILLIANT - GRACEFUL JUST BEAUTIFUL!!! __________________________________________ ALL OUR ITEMS ARE SHIPPED AUTOMATICALLY INSURED. WE SHIP WITHIN 3 DAYS OF RECEIPT OF PAYMENT (IN MOST INSTANCES, EARLIER). IF YOU NEED AN IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT, PLEASE LET US KNOW BEFORE OR UPON CLOSING OF THE AUCTION AND WE WILL MEET YOUR NEEDS. WE PROVIDE DISCOUNTS FOR COMBINED SHIPMENTS. PLEASE INQUIRE. WE ARE PROUD TO JOIN THE EBAY TEAM. 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