'Baron' Terry Pratchett to be auctioned

An almost life-sized fibreglass sculpture with the face of Sir Terry Pratchett is to be auctioned at Salisbury Cathedral tomorrow evening (October 1). It’s one of 25 statues of medieval barons, created to mark the 800^th anniversary of the Magna Carta, which have been on display around the city since June.

The Discworld author died in March following a public struggle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Illustrator and long-time Discworld collaborator Paul Kidby wanted his figure to be a tribute to the author. It has a shield with Discworld on it, a helmet with a Discworld motto, and a cloak made up of about 70 of Pratchett’s most famous characters.

The statues of the Barons’ Charter Trail were reunited outside the Cathedral prior to the auction. (The Cathedral is home to the best-preserved of the four surviving copies of the Magna Carta.)

Among the figures is a Stonehenge Winter Solstice Druid Baron (above), created by New Zealand artist Mandii Pope. She says she wanted to keep her design local, and has been fascinated by pagan history and Stonehenge for years.

Others in the collection include (from left) a Magna Carta 800 Baron, a Quintessentially British Baron,  an Astro Baron, and even a Hello Kitty one (5th from left). The Conceptual Baron (below) stands in front of the Walking Madonna statue by Dame Elizabeth Frink, part of the Cathedral's permanent collection of contemporary artworks.

The money raised by the auction will go to the Trussell Trust, a charity that provides emergency food and support to people in difficulties. 

 

http://www.thebaronscharter.org.uk/

Footnote (2.10.15)
Baron Discworld raised the most money - £5000. Of the others pictured above, Quintessentially British fetched £2,600, the Winter Solstice Druid and Astro Baron both went for £2,500,  the Magna Carta 800 Baron for £2,100, and Hello Kitty for £1,300. A highly sucessful event!

Ten things you may not know about the Magna Carta

John was a tyrant, John was a tartar
John put his name to the great big charter
Every baron from Thames to Tweed
Followed the road to Runnymede.

(Hugh Chesterman, b. 1884) 

  

Runnymede is currently in the news with celebrations being held to remember the signing of the Magna Carta 800 years ago, on June 15. To mark this anniversary, the British Library has mounted a major exhibition, which includes two surviving copies, two of King John’s teeth – and many interesting facts: 

1. Despite common assumption, King John never signed the charter when he sat down with his Barons. Instead, he affixed his seal – the usual practice for kings at that time. 
2. The provisions in the document lasted just 10 weeks before it was annulled by the Pope, who declared it to be 'base and shameful, null and void".
3. It was revised by later monarchs and entered the statute books in 1297.

4. It was used to draft the 1628 Petition of Right, which limited the authority of Charles I, and was cited against him during his trial the following year. Since then, the law has slowly encroached on royal privilege, and today, no one in the UK is above the law, not even the Queen.

5. It influenced the wording of America’s Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights.

6.The slices in the bottom of one of the copies on display at the British Library (below) are not, as urban legend tells, from King John’s knife, stabbed down in anger, but to hold the long-since-lost wax seal.

7.Four manuscripts of the 1215 Magna Carta survive today. One is owned by Lincoln Cathedral, one by Salisbury Cathedral, and two are with the British Library.

8.In 1941 the British Cabinet, seeking ways to persuade the US to enter the war, considered giving Lincoln Cathedral’s one to Washington as a gift.  But the plan foundered when it was realised the ‘bit of parchment, more than 700 years old’ was not theirs to give. 
9 Only three provisions remain in force today: the right of trial by jury, protection for the liberties of the City of London and other cities, boroughs, towns and ports, and the freedom of the Church of England.
10 The British Library occasionally gets letters from drivers asking if the Magna Carta protects their rights to appeal against parking tickets. It doesn't.

The exhibition runs until 1st September, 2015. Entry is £12.

http://www.bl.uk/magna-carta