Jules Verne Handcrafted Wall Plaque
"An artistic ode to the true Master of Invention"
Handcrafted in true Verne-like fashion from an eclectic mix of modern and antiquated raw materials, this custom-cast plaque features relief lettering, beveled details, simulated distress/corrosion, and measures 9x18 inches. It has been finished with high quality artists acrylics, along with several genuine 19th century embellishments!
Despite its sturdy appearance, the completed plaque is deceptively lightweight.
It will arrive carefully packed and pre-wired ready for hanging, though the plaque displays equally well simply posed atop any amply-lit shelf. This first-of-its-kind piece is signed and designated as #1. Should any fellow fans of Mr. Verne express an interest in acquiring additional plaques (and assuming I'm able to accommodate the task time-wise), I'll create and number any subsequent output accordingly.
For anyone curious as to the creative process behind this long-delayed project, see the story and pics below. Much thanks dear friends for your consideration and best of the day to you.
As with all of my items, they come from a 100% pet-free (sad, I know), smoke-free, climate-controlled setting.
Verne Plaque: Backstory
Originally conceived some 14 years ago, then perpetually moved from one to-do-list to another, several months of downtime from a pair of operations has finally afforded me the opportunity to see this long-deferred project realized at last. With some 40 plus years of sculpting experience under my belt, primarily in the field of no-budget spfx, I created the VERNE prototype plaque from a variety of materials, including Foamcore, Plasticine, Plaster of Paris, and WED clay... the preferred medium of Disney Imagineers, who created the venerable substance back in the 1960's.
The completed plaque was sealed with lacquer, then enveloped in a single-part platinum silicone mold, which in turn was encased in solid plaster. While the prototype was unfortunately destroyed in the removal process, the cured silicone captured every nuance of the original plaque down to its finest detail. From this master mold a rigid Polyurethane replica was ultimately cast over an 8x16-inch stretched canvas.
After trimming and light sanding, the plaque's surface was initially primed and top-coated with high-quality artists acrylics. In keeping with my original concept of creating the plaque out of a combination of 21st, 20th and 19th century materials, the plaque's aged metal effects were achieved with 100+ year-old metallic powders (suspended in an acrylic polymer emulsion) which were originally manufactured for 19th century sign painters.
In keeping with utilizing materials that were actually in existence during Mr. Verne's lifetime, the plaque's reverse side is embellished with a 130-year-old title page from his masterwork, "20,000 Leagues Under the Seas". Responsibly sourced from a deteriorating, unrestorable 1890 edition published by the F. M. Lupton Company, the page is permanently affixed to the canvas and preserved with a coat of protective sealant.
As astounding as it may seem, Jules Verne near single-handedly invented science fiction itself, forecast in astonishing detail what was to become the modern day submarine, and, despite how enormously vast the Earth must have appeared to Verne at the time (1865), he accurately predicted within a scant 115 miles the exact spot where mankind would one day depart for the moon.
One hundred and eighteen years after his death, his extraordinary legacy continues to live on. And, while even the most industrious among us would be hard-pressed to achieve a mere fraction of Jules Verne's many remarkable achievements, simply remembering and honoring his genius is surely a respectable start.
Free shipping within the continental U.S. and I always ship out within 2 days, oftentimes sooner.
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NOTE: Due to mounting costs on my feature film project, all equipment and assets not presently being utilized need to be turned back into spendable assets ASAP to cover stock, processing and scanning fees. I'll be listing many more items in the near future, all priced to sell!
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NOTE: All proceeds from auction sales are being devoted entirely to the creation of my first feature length film. Set in the 1960's, the flick is a sentimental ode to classic Japanese sci-fi cinema. Despite its minuscule budget, the project is jam-packed with giant mutated meanies, flying saucers, classic hot rods and daringly-dressed vixens. All realized with traditional 35mm cameras and practical, old school FX.
Absolutely NO CGI whatsoever!
Should any kind person purchase one of my items, they'll be directly funding my small-scale efforts to keep the fast-vanishing art of celluloid filmmaking alive.
