Last updated on October 22nd, 2012
ALTHOUGH I WAS HAPPY to have the lawn service here yesterday (they gathered, shredded and piled the leaves I’ll use this winter), my cement replica of Venus de Milo was not. Thanks to a little accident with a tractor, she now has a more antiquated look:
Nate, who has mowed this property hundreds of times, finally slammed into Ms. Venus. She plunged off her plinth, landed face-down, and, well, off went her head. In hindsight, I wish I’d moved Venus into the Pool Garden, where two other statues reside, and where tractors aren’t permitted.
Now, here’s my dilemma: Should I leave Venus as is — or have her head cemented back on? What’s your advice?
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Anonymous says
Honestly, Kevin, I'd leave her head off! Not only do you have a great story about her decapitation, but you have an “authentic fake” in your garden now! Keep us posted on what you decide.
Louise
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Louise – I think you are right! She's an “authentic fake” now!
Eliza J says
Kevin, I'd say leave it as it is The head on its own looks like George Washington!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Wow, Eliza J – I think you're right!
Nicole H says
Hi Kevin, long time reader, first time poster 🙂
I agree with the others and think it should stay off. Partially because no matter how well it would get cemented back on, there would still be visible flaws, and I think that would take away from the beautiful work you do aging your statues.
Love your posts! Thanks for all the reading!
~
Donna B. says
OFF WITH HER HEAD!
Silly, I know – but I think she looks gorgeous headless!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Nicole H – Nice to meet you! The statue, I think, shall indeed remain headless.
Donna B. – So sayeth the Queen of Hearts! Venus does look kind of awesome without that excess weight on her shoulders!
Broken Barn Industries says
Definitely go headless! You can use the head elsewhere. Lots of elsewheres. I’d start with in a flower arrangement. Hmmm… hood ornament?
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
A hood ornament? Now we’re talkin’.
Vicki says
Headless is the way to go, Kevin, definitely! But save the head, because I am sure you can think of something very clever to do with it next Halloween….
Frances says
it seems like your Venus might be invited to join the Headless Hunt. and if you were to have a cherry tree in your yard, wouldn’t that be the best place to display venus’ newly mobile head (a la Eliza’s comment)…
thanks for your fun blog!
be well!
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Vicki – Yes, mounted on a platter for Halloween!
Frances – Nice to “see” you again! Ah, so many possibilities…and only one head!
makeityourring diamond says
I agree completely.
Kate Stalter-Mastro says
Definitely leave her headless. She looks really great like that. More “real”
mary ann says
the real story is that at the tea party, the Royals said
“Off with her head”….and so it was done and love her
new look……place her head where it will startle someone
as they bend down to take in wonderful aroma of a rose or
some flower, fun.
Pamdemonium says
Aside from the fact we’re not talking about Marie Antoinette here, I think the head should remain off. What the heck, she lost her arms so many centuries ago and has remained most trendy. Besides, it’s a great legacy for Nate as well as one of those mishap stories that can be a real crowd pleaser at parties. Que Sera, Sera, Kevin.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
makeyourringdiamond – Welcome to A Garden for the House!
Kate Stalter-Mastro – I agree. Her headless version has grown on me already.
mary ann – Yes, I should place the head in some sneaky spot where it will frighten an unsuspecting visitor.
Pamdemonium – Looking at the statue, certain lyrics come to mind: “Take my arms…I never use them” (from “Take All of Me”) and “Goin’ out of my head…over you…”
Sylvia says
Has the head remained off? I totally agree with everyone above. 🙂
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Sylvia – Nice to meet you. Yes, Venus has remained headless. Her head is in my garden shed, awaiting some creative use!
Beth says
Little late reading this and commenting, but I’m glad Venus remained headless. If you haven’t repurposed the head yet, I would put it someplace unexpected, peaking out from below a lush plant. It would be fun to see people’s reaction when they notice her.
Patricia Mountsteven says
What a lovely trip round your garden Kevin, most enjoyable when viewed from a dark, damp grey day in England. I really think your statue looks better headless….makes it so much more antique and of course unique. Maybe Venus’s head could find some soft mossy pillow to lie down upon. Best wishes Patricia
Patty says
I say leave it off. More impressive and she has history.
María says
You live in Paradise! I am going back to today’s post to keep strolling with you …. it is a delight!
Judy nalda says
Get a stand for the head and put it in your library.
Kevin Lee Jacobs says
Judy nalda – Now that’s an idea!
mike says
I wouldn’t be so quick to assign blame to the grounds keeper. One look at that head and I’d say the beheading was divine intervention. Perhaps Venus, herself, couldn’t bear witness to the facial edifice.
Susan says
Submerged serenely under the water’s surface in the pool garden with lilly pads would be unexpected.
Cindy Garrison says
I’d put it on. It was a lovlier statue with it on.
Rita says
I thought it looked sad without her head. All that beauty, and then Venus can’t see it? Put her head back on, Kevin. Instead of seeing all the beauty combined, your eyes go right to her headless body. Peace and beauty go right away without her head!
Connie says
So much for “Don’t Lose Your Head”, but everything happens for a reason. My husband has a few headless statues, because he felt they (and their heads) would have a happy home in our garden. I’d like to add that we keep the statues near their heads so their not totally disconnected!
John says
Hahaha! I just followed the link to this story and nearly spit out my coffee. Headless or not, Kevin, I think you should give Venus a sturdier base. Maybe a concrete footing to below your frost line? I’d hate to see her lose another part.