Black Widow Shadowbox

Description

Lady Leticia (nee Nightshade) had a talent for marriage in general and for marrying titled husbands in particular. Her first spouse, Percival Wardore XII, Lord of Aspic, proposed when Letitica was 16 years old, a mere slip of a girl with an odd fascination for brewing up exploding potions with her at-home chemistry set. Only a year later, the unfortunate Lord had expired from a virulent case of heartburn shortly before their first wedding anniversary. Not long afterwards, the lovely Leticia was celebrating her nuptials to the somewhat dour Basil Deadworry, Duke of Wherewithal. Such a tragedy when he was brained by a piece of crumbling statuary whilst taking his morning constitutional around the manor! It did leave Lady Leticia in the possession of quite the fortune, however. An extensive tour of the Continent to recover from her deep sorrow put her in the acquaintance of the dashing Emilian Quinine, Baron of Listing Spigot, and following a whirlwind courtship, they were wed on the opulent oceanliner, Torpid Colossus. Certain cynical members of society where frankly astonished when the good Baron made it back ashore without falling overboard, drowning or being inadvertently swept into the ship’s propellor – some people are so negative! Despite Emilian’s objections to Leticia’s pet mechanical spider, the young couple seemed quite blissful for a time, out dancing at the chicest masquerade balls and scandalously sipping absinthe and carousing at the trendiest cafes. I suppose no one was overly surprised when Baron Quinine was found dead of multiple poisonous spider bites at his gentlemen’s club in town, but it was undeniable that the Lady Duchess Baroness Wardore Deadworry Quinine and her little silver spider had airtight alibis. In full possession of her youth, a vast fortune, and a new nickname, the Black Widow is just waiting for that next special fellow…

This one-of-a-kind 6 ½” x 6 ½” x 1 ¾” original assemblage art piece features a shadowbox portion encased in glass that has been removed for photographing. Lady “Black Widow” Leticia is raised from the background of her baroque wallpapered parlor for 3-D effect, and the remains of her various husbands are pictured behind her. She wears a spider-inhabited black hat festooned with sparkling black glitter, a teardrop crystal at her throat and a lovely jeweled brooch securing her furs. Small corked glass vials containing glittering “Digitalis Compound”, “Chloroform Poison” (with green cubic zirconium stopper) and quartz crystals of “Strychnine” are off to her right in the foreground. Spiders cavort around and above her. The top of the piece features black Dresden trim and a painted wooden art nouveau flourish showcasing Leticia’s silver pet mechanical spider, who is accented with tiny silver watch gears. So delicate, detailed and dark, this piece will captivate you! Back finished with coordinating artpaper and signed. Stands up on its own, but I can include a hook for hanging if you like – simply convo me or mention in your buyer’s notes. Insurance included in shipping price.

This original artwork and story are copyright Ramona Szczerba 2008. Copyright to this material is in no way transferable with the sale of this item. The buyer is not entitled to any reproduction rights – neither image nor story can be reproduced without my express written permission. Thanks!

Added on Sep 23, 2009