GOLDEN SOLSTICE SMEUSE
FOR THE PAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE BEEN MAKING A PRINT FOR THE WINTER SOLSTICE, USING 23CT GOLD POWDER FROM CORNELISSON'S IN LONDON. THIS IS, OF COURSE, A SOMEWHAT EXPENSIVE AND, OF COURSE, SLIGHTLY FRIGHTENING THING TO DO. BUT THE RESULTS ARE VERY BEAUTIFUL, AND I'VE NOT YET SEEN A PHOTOGRAPH THAT CAN DO THEM JUSTICE. THIS YEAR'S PRINT IS CALLED 'GOLDEN SOLSTICE SMEUSE'. FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT KNOW (ALMOST EVERYONE ON THE PLANET) A 'SMEUSE' IS A DIALECT WORD FROM SUSSEX, IN THE SOUTH OF ENGLAND, THAT MEANS 'THE GAP IN THE BASE OF A HEDGE MADE BY THE REGULAR PASSAGE OF A SMALL ANIMAL'. THIS DEFINITION IS FROM ROBERT MACFARLANE'S FORTHCOMING BOOK 'LANDMARKS', WHICH IS FULL OF SUCH WONDERS. LET'S SEE IF WE CAN GET THAT INTO COMMON PARLANCE, ALONG WITH 'ZMAS'.
THIS YEAR, DESPITE FLUCTUATIONS IN THE PRICE OF GOLD, WE HAVE RETAINED LAST YEAR'S PRICE FOR THE GOLD SOLSTICE PRINT AT £250. THE PRINT IS ON SOMERSET VELVET PAPER PRODUCED AT ST CUTHBERT'S MILL IN SOMERSET, AND IS HAND-TORN TO THE SIZE INDICATED BELOW. THIS IS AN EDITION OF 24 PRINTS.
PRINT SIZE: 150MM X 115MM APPROX
PAPER SIZE: 270MM X 220MM APPROX
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