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The Gog and Magog Blog |
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The Gog and Magog Blog |
| Gog and Magog---the Lord Mayor's Show 2006
This was the brainchild of our current Prime Warden Mrs. Olivia Elton Barratt. What better way to promote the craft of basketmaking and the Basketmakers' Association than to have these giants on show with the Lord Mayor. This amazing 'Giant' of a project to recreate the effigies of Gog and Magog in willow received an enthusiastic welcome from the Lord Mayor's Show Pageant Master, Dominic Reid, and the Society of Young Freemen, who provided the manpower to transport the Giants through the City streets. Construction commenced in the Spring of 2006 with the team comprising members of the Basketmakers' Association, Yeomen and Livery Members of the Basketmakers Company. This presented a wonderful opportunity for all to contribute to a memorable project to publicise our ancient and very much alive craft. Apart from designing and building the willow frames the appropriate clothing and weapons carried by these giants has to be provided. Thanks to the talents of Past Prime Warden Richard Bundock, suitable trolleys to support the structure were constructed. The figures stand some fifteen feet high, so a very sturdy and stable construction is essential. John Stuttard, the Lord Mayor Elect visited the project to inspect progress during the second July session. The Giants had a very successful debut at the Lord Mayor's Parade on Saturday 11th November. Watch this space for pictures of the Parade. click here to see the Giants at the Lord Mayor's Parade |
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Finishing Touches |
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| Kay and Olivia pose with the boys |  |
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| October Sessions |
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Dressing-up time... |
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| What all the best City Defenders are wearing on their heads this year |  |
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| You'd better watch out, the boys are about... |  |
| Guess who? |  |
| If the hat fits... |  |
| Jan and Linda finishing Magog's hat |  |
| They are on the march.... |  |
September
Sessions |
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| There you are now all he needs is his head................... |  |
| "Oh Gog! is he going to be alright?" |  |
| "No problem, we will soon have him together again"! |  |
| John & David retrieving the heads from Kay's pond after a soaking |  |
| Alan Sage working on Magog's head |  |
| August Sessions | |
| Bunty and Mally model the part-completed heads |  |
| Hilary reaches the wrist |  |
| John models a completed arm |  |
| Eleanor completing an elbow |  |
| Mary Brown and John McKenna tidying up the necks |
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| Second
July Session |
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| Visit from the Lord Mayor Elect John Stuttard, to see how the giants are progressing |  |
| PPW Richard Bundock testing the head template
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| Trade Advisor Mary Butcher at work with Linda |  |
| Ah! Now I see the problem........ The Upper Warden makes a critical adjustment |
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| Jan at work on an arm |  |
| Yeoman Sandra Barker working on one of the heads |  |
| Eleanor and Mary starting the arms |  |
| First July session | |
| Deep technical discussions under way |  |
| Finishing the shoulders |  |
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| Building up the neck |  |
| June Sessions |
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| Kay with one of the giants, now with the "Arm"-ature fixed inside and Richard's shoulder-joints in place |
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| Olivia and Richard showing the inside of the waist joint |  |
| Will the falling Giant crush the Upper Warden? |  |
| Superhuman strength wins the day, she will be lifting cars next.. |  |
| click here to see the previous sessions up to May 14th | |
The
effigies of two sixteenth century giants, Gog and Magog, in the likeness
of ancient guardians of the City of London, which for centuries have stood
guard in Guildhall and whose inflatable figures have featured in the annual
Lord Mayor's Show, have been recreated in their original form of construction,
using basketmaking techniques.