There was some discussion (dissapointment) expressed by some that Seven Foot Knoll would be pictured "out of the water" instead of in the water like Thomas Point.

Either way would have been OK for me, but now that I see it, I'm happy it's displayed as it is.

I certainly couldn't be a purist and say "Not in the water, not for me".

What about the rest of you?

I'm with Sean on this one. The pictures of the Troll look great, but I'd prefer to see it in the water as an aid to navigation rather than surrounded by kids eating ice cream cones. Whatever value it has on land today is derived from the work it did on duty. Give the Troll its due - shoulda shown it on post, not on vacation.

Rgds,
__
/im

I agree with Tim and Sean, but it's not on vacation.
The Knoll is at it's retirement home.

WackoPaul

Seeing the light this way is bittersweet -- kinda like seeing a panda at a zoo. You're glad that someone had the sense and the means to preserve it, but really, really wish it could be different.

The piece appears to be a very nice one, and I can't wait to get it. But (better have a seat, folks) I agree with Sean, Tim, and Paul on this one. The real thing is on land out of necessity. The HL could have/ should have been a tribute to it's glory years.

Sculpting 7 Foot Knoll on terra firma is sort of like painting a panda in a cage. The creature is still beautiful, but without soul, without life, without dignity. Is it necessary to capture these lesser attributes in art?

Perhaps HL was making a statement; I view the Knoll-less Troll as a tragedy akin to the Sharps Island and Morris Island "Now" pieces, with a somewhat happier ending. Perhaps this sculpture needed to be done this way to make the point, but I think the message (if this was the intent) will be lost on the majority. On the other hand, if the point was "Look at what preservation societies can accomplish", I can think of better examples to use. 7-Foot's current situation is neither the best nor the worst possible outcome, so to me there is little to be gained by depicting it beached.

IMO, HL did a splendid job of "reporting the facts", but a little artistic license would have been wonderful on this one.

-Art

I have to say that it appears to be well done but agree that it should have been in it's original element.


Richard Weaver
One of the Smoky Mtn. Flame Keepers





[This message has been edited by rew99 (edited 03-19-99).]

Although I would have much rather have seen Seven Foot Knoll depicted in the water, its true intended environment, I am not totally disappointed with the outcome of the piece. Even though on land, it is a beautiful piece representing the light as it is today.

I do like Art's panda analogy. Kinda sums it up pretty well I think.

-Todd

Yes, another company could have/already has? depicted it on land for the souvenier shoppers. And HL should have done it in the water for the purists.

I have to agree with Todd on this. I'd rather have it modelled in the water, but it does seem like a beautiful piece as it is.


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Keepin' the flame

I have an AP of Seven Foot Knoll and it is one of Harbour Lights best efforts yet. However, it would have been much more realistic over water.

Bill

I agree with all the posts above. It should have been displayed in the water. HOWEVER........I seem to remember Bill Younger saying on Legendary Lighthouses on PBS that he hopes by looking at the model the collector can get a sense of what it looks like if they were actually standing in front to the real thing. Granted that the lighthouse is on land PRESENTLY the model is a faithful reproduction of the lighthouse.

Of course it would have looked better in the water...but Harbour Lights decided that it would be faithful to the real lighthouse and sculpt it as such.

whew....

I too must weigh in with my disappointment. Sean said it first and best for me. Looks like a beautiful reproduction but my my zeal to acquire it has been dampened!

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Ken T

I guess I agree with all the comments for it to be located on the water.

I would say though that if the attempt was to show the "success" of placing the light on land to save it from inevitable deterioration, and have thousands of people be able to experience a lighthouse up close each year, then they should have shown it off with kids eating ice cream cones and little tourists climbing all over it. Show it off for what it really is, a great museum for all to experience! Could actually be very interesting with alot of little tourist figures around it. (Ok guys, not necessary for all the "add the hot dog stand vender & white-top tour buses out front" comments)

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-RodW
[This message has been edited by Rod Watson (edited 03-19-99).]

So this panda walks into a bar, sits down on a bar stool and orders a burger, fries, and a coke. Bartender eyes the beast warily at first, but when the panda starts eating its food, nothing seems amiss so the bartender goes back to his chores. After a while the panda is done eating, pushes the plate forward, and starts to leave the bar. The barkeep runs out from behind his bar and confronts the panda. "Hey waita minute. You can't leave. You gotta pay for your food." The panda pull outs a gun and shoots the bartender dead; it then resumes walking toward the door. On hearing all the commotion, the cook comes out, spies the bartender lying on the floor and then yells out - 'Hey you stop'. "You can't do that, who the heck do you think you are" says the cook. The panda turns - with a fierce glare, it cooly replies "I'm a Panda. Thats P-A-N-D-A. Look it up, buddy." The cook is momentarily silenced and the panda then walks out of the bar. Still shaking from his encounter with the beast, the cook gets out a dictionary to look up the panda word. He eventually locates the word and reads - Panda (pan da) A large black and white mammal resembling a bear. Indigenous to the forrests of Northern China. Eats shoots and leaves.

Rgds,
__
/im (So this seven foot knoll walks into a bar...)

LOL

Tim, you've outdone yourself again!

-Art [Entropy can be fun!]

7' Knoll, MD...I will welcome this great piece into my collection. Yes, it would have been nice to have it depicted at it's original location, but I'm satisfied with it the way it is.
It will be nice to add another "screwpile" to the curio. Most people in my neck of the woods have never seen "screwpile" lighthouses. They always ask about the ones I have displayed in my curio. Now they will have another one to ask about.

Great joke, Tim........

That's the word from the East Coast where it's clear, dark, and 32 degrees.

However depicted, the piece is very impressive and will be a very nice addition. All of the Society pieces this year are very nice from what I have seen.


Digger

I too would have preferred to see it modeled as it stood performing its noble duty, not in its retirement setting. Having said that, I'll still buy it, simply because its a unique & handsome piece of work. That wasn't the case with Drum Point - it was too similar to Thomas Pt (but not as appealing) and it was in an unnatural setting. Accordingly, I didn't buy the piece. Please HL, no more "out-of-their-environment" pieces.

I would liked to have seen the lighthouse at sea, but it looks like another great piece to add to the collection.

I have a suggestion. Why not partition HL to make another before piece of 7 Foot Know, Sharps Island, and Drum Point in the before mode and call these existing three pieces after mode. If you want to go way back, all Chessie lights were screw piles. How far back do we want to go?

Let's not forget New Point Comfort. Another Morris Island but in a less active surf so the light is being preserved.

Moby

Hello All,

After reading through all of your comments I agree with both sides of the fence. The thing I can't help thinking that no matter how Harbor Lights decides to produce a lighthouse we should all be grateful that they include these historical sentinels in the collection.

It's not how you remember them, it's that they are rembered at all that counts.

May you all "Keep the Flame"!!

Maybe we can convince the City of Baltimore to build a giant curio cabinet around the Troll. That might make it more life like.
;->

__
/im (Sounds like a job for Brady, Inc.)

Hello Sean,

Thank you for pointing out a view that I had overlooked. You are absolutey right that we collectors should voice ALL of our opinionsso that the fine folks at Harbor Lights know how we feel about what we are interested in.

By the way one of these years I hope to make it out to the coast and do some lighthouse touring.

Thanks again and the best to you and yours!

I have mixed feelings. I like the idea of a screwpile being shown in the water, but I also like HL taking some artistic license with their sculpting. How many of us would like to see some of the lighthouses as they are today - unfortunately, too many of them are in terrible shape. I must admit that I liked the "then and now" ones they've done.