Tuesday 19 December 2017

Christmas Details 2017 - Pots and Pans, bowls and jugs, cups and saucers, vessels and vases

Last year, in haste, I cobbled together some details of paintings on Christmas day morning for a "details" competition in memory of the late Tom Lubbock. Two people found all the answers. I made a half definite promise to make a better competition for 2017. This week someone asked on this blog if I would be putting one together this year. This gave me an impetus and I have spent a day or so putting one together.

Once again, I am setting this puzzle in memory of Tom Lubbock who gave us all so much happiness with his weekly Details Competitions over two decades in the Independent on Sunday and the much anticipated enlarged Christmas Details Competition. For me, personally, it enhanced the Christmas holiday in an unique way. Other members of my family may have a different perspective.

So if there are lovers of art puzzles still out there, or old Details contestants, here is an edition for 2017. If it helps you to celebrate this break at the darkest time of the year, all to the good.

There are more details than usual. I am no website professional, nor master of image manipulation, so apologise in advance if there is some fraying  at the edges.

Nearly all the artists are well known - I think I'd regard only one or two as obscure. However, I am not sure how difficult this puzzle will turn out to be. I apologize if it proves to be too tough. I am conscious of copyright, so virtually all the pictures were created over 100 years ago.

If, by the deadline, anyone wants to send in her/his set of answers, however incomplete, I shall be happy to look at them and post up a list of those who achieved.

I think Tom Lubbock's traditional deadline was sometime in the New Year, usually a Friday, so I'll say midnight on Friday, 5th January.

Send entries to detailspuzzle@yahoo.com

After the deadline, I shall look at any entries as promptly as I can, but I am not fixing a firm date for publishing the winner(s).

I shall publish the answers and the name of each of the three entrants who has the highest number of correct answers, provided she/he confirms approval when sending in the answers. There are no prizes, just prestige!

It occurred to me that a donation to a relevant charity might be worth considering because Tom Lubbock tragically died from a brain tumour. The hospice which cared for Tom Lubbock was the Royal Trinity Hospice

https://www.royaltrinityhospice.london/

Another possible recipient would be The Brain Tumour Charity,

https://www.thebraintumourcharity.org/understanding-brain-tumours/types-of-brain-tumour-adult/glioblastoma/

Please note I have no connection with either of these organisations.

Finally, looking at the preview of this blog, I feel a sense of the old excitement which arose when I opened the Magazine Section of the old Independent on Sunday before each Christmas and saw the set of images arrayed with a different theme every year. It was truly magical.

For those who do not know about the old Competition, the objective is to find the name of the artist and title of the picture for each of the details. Titles vary, so any known version is acceptable.

Please accept that this is not a formal competition and I can only do my best when looking at entries. Tom Lubbock always insisted on refusing to enter into correspondence during the competition, so I shall do the same. I hope you enjoy this and don't take it too seriously.