S e c r e t s

Beppo the clown, of Harmony Circus fame, has given his brother Barney a box of “Golden Moments” cigars for his birthday. But what a surprise! A frog sits languorously inside the cigar box with his feet resting on a golden ball, a reference to the children’s fairy story “The Frog Prince.” Another label reads “For Mr. Wormold 59200/5.” This refers to the hero of Graham Greene’s novel “Our Man in Havana” (where all the good smokes come from). One very obscure label refers to “25 Gaspers.” Inside we find the sad evidence of the frog’s fate and demise: a bone marked “Pattes des Grenouilles” – this is the gastronomic French delicacy of “Frog’s Legs.” Ironically, David said he had never eaten frog’s legs until the day after he had delivered this sculpture to the factory. Then, while dining out on his 21st wedding anniversary in a tiny Devon fishing village, he came across the dish on the menu – and in view of his recent work felt he had to try it, if only for the purposes of research. Daughter Rose asked him later what they tasted like. “A bit like chicken,” he replied. This is the 118th figurine David has carved for Harmony Kingdom. The signature acorn is located on the back of the lid, top right.