Topic: Willie Manson Octopus?

[tootingpf]

Hi all,

Is this really a Willie Manson Octopus?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WILLIAM-MANSON-SCOTLAND-2-1-2-OCTOPUS-DESIGN-PAPERWEIGHT-/231054161394?ssPageName=ADME:B:SS:GB:3160

Apart from anything else, all the examples of Willie Manson Octopuses (Octopi?!) I've seen have always had the right number of legs...  I believe 8 is traditional for an octopus.

Graham

[chopin-liszt]

No, I do not think that is Willie's wonderful work.   
In my not so humble opinion it is a lump of fairly new Chinese glass. 

[chriscooper]

Would have expected the seller to mention either one of Willies canes or a JD or both?

Chris

[tootingpf]

I completely agree Sue!

As a huge fan of Willie's sealife stuff generally, this is not up to scratch!

Attached for comparison is a pic of an Octopus that I bought direct from Willie (note the standard eight legs.... )

I'd agree with you on Chinese (the colour of the starfish maybe a clue!).  Shame.

Graham

[chopin-liszt]

Funnily enough, the seller does post a link to Willie's work - which (IMNSHO) is vastly superior to the lump in question.
All of the weights in the link have signature canes.
The weight in question has a lot of contemporary Chinese, made and sold in the Heart Foundation Shops, features that I recognise.
(I'm being very careful in what I am saying here.  )

There is really a huge difference in the complexity of the background, isn't there?
Plain blue with some white splodges versus the sandy bottom of a sea bed, vegetation and other creatures...

[tootingpf]

Yes, this seems to be a new departure - I've not seen this before.

I've seen lots of cheap and cheerful (and poor quality) fish weights, but this is the first time I've seen a septimus...

There really is no comparison with the original.

Graham

[chriscooper]

Glad you both agree 

Chris

[chopin-liszt]

The earlier Heart Foundation Shop Chinese ones with lizards in are very nice indeed - for the right price of ~ £4.99.

Do you not agree with us two too, Chris?

[pooleandpaperweights]

Just for comparison, here we have one of the original 50 limited edition in the middle, the master sample weight on the left, and a rather rare 1980 Caithness weight also made by Willie.

http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/pooleandpaperweights/20121216_2026250_zpsc4b35d59.jpg

Hope no one falls for the blatant misleading of the Chinese one!

Ian

[Roger H]

A good chinese weight in my opinion and I agree with all the other comment details.
       Quite nice at the appropriate price.
          Regards Roger