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When Scrooge McDuck came
on the scene, we gave him our hearts, for Scrooge was the dream
brought to fulfillment.
As the world's richest duck, owner of three cubic acres of money,
he was comical proof that the American myth works.
It was good to be assured of this, and even better to read in
our comic books that millionaires at base are no different than
the rest of us.
Scrooge was shown by Barks both in glory and defeat. The
greatest success, Barks seemed to say, comes in giving life your
best effort.
This is why readers of all ages have embraced Barks' stories: he
made the ducks human.
It is why Disney honored Barks as one of the company's Legends,
an artist who has made a sustained and vital contribution to the
Disney myth.
And it is why the company has commissioned a series of porcelain
sculptures that capture the magic and the pathos of Barks'
creations.
Inaugurating the series
is Always Another Rainbow
- the figure of a young Scrooge McDuck at the outset of
his career on the Comstock Lode.
Scrooge has not yet bought the frock coat and high, silk hat
which in later life will mark him as a tycoon,
but something in his gaze suggests he can see the day coming.
Only his rain-sodden hat is droopy; McDuck himself strains ahead
to future conquest.
One hand clutches a pot of gold; strapped to his back is a rifle
to protect it.
Pick, canteen, and bedroll complete the young miner’s kit.
He is ready for a new challenge, a fresh encounter, another
rainbow.
Always Another Rainbow
is based on a painting Barks made in, 1974,
eight years after he retired from comics and moved into the fine
art market.
There he produced more than a hundred paintings and quickly
became a cult phenomenon.
Today his original oils, and acrylics hang in the homes of a
fortunate few.
If a painting came up for auction, it would take a healthy chunk
of Scrooge's fortune to buy it.
This does not mean that Barks' art is beyond reach.
With the advent of the Carl Barks Figurines,
100 discerning collectors will have the chance to acquire their
own piece of the rainbow,
cast in bone china and signed in the final firing by the artist
himself.
Each was an original creation, designed by Barks with the same
consummate artistry that he devoted to his comics and paintings.
The studio that brought
his ducks to life is Connoisseur of Malvern, located a hundred
miles to the north of London.
For more than a decade, this talented group of English craftsmen
has excelled at creating artworks in porcelain.
A floral sculpture from Connoisseur looks as if it could rustle
in the wind; a bird, as if it might burst into song.
Special commissions from the studio are displayed in Buckingham
Palace, the Vatican, the White House, and numerous private
collections.
It was a daunting task,
bringing an oil painting to life in three dimensions.
The whole image had to be conceived afresh, and from every
angle.
How did Scrooge look from behind?
Were there shadows under the brim of his hat?
Was there a strap on his rifle?
In making model sketches for the sculptor at Connoisseur,
Barks found himself adding numerous details, essentially
creating his masterpiece over again.
At the same time, he strove at every turn to remain faithful to
the original. Then the sculptor went to work.
Their joint rendition
was cast in sixteen parts and colored in four stages.
Connoisseur's Master Hand Painters have been apprenticed seven
years at their trade,
and these accomplished craftsmen spent nearly fifteen hours
coloring each figure of Scrooge.
At every juncture, Barks was consulted to ensure the highest
degree of authenticity.
He agreed to one dazzling innovation:
the application of 22-carat gold to the nuggets in Scrooge's
poke, veins on the rocks, and the bullets in his belt.
The result is a unique and precious sculpture. Painted and
assembled by hand, no two figures are entirely alike.
Each of the 100
sculptures (plus 10 Artist's Proofs) is securely mounted on a
wooden base
and paired with a limited-edition lithograph of the painting
that inspired it.
This print also is signed by Barks, with the same edition number
as the sculpture.
No detail is spared.
Continuous-tone lithography by the famed Black Box of Chicago
preserves every nuance of color,
while premium paper and archival matting ensure the print's
longevity.
In a final luxurious flourish, the lithograph comes housed in a
cherry wood custom frame whose hand-beveled border matches the
figurine's stand.
Then, to guarantee exclusivity, the sculptor's molds and
printer's plates are destroyed.
Always Another Rainbow
is a treasure Uncle Scrooge might dream of, a collector's prize
richly and lovingly wrought.
For those who know its history, it is a piece of Americana.
It is also an artistic coup, presenting Carl Barks' vision in
complementary media.
Gazing at the lithograph, we see the clouds behind McDuck
beginning to part.
Holding the statue, we can actually feel them.
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