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World Angels
Over the years I have accumulated many angel figures from around the world and photographed many others that I could not bring home.
My family: Tony, Caz and Nicki, who travel extensively, have given me many wonderful angels from the fabulous places they have visited.
I am delighted to be able to share these angels with you, so you too can see their diversity and read the stories associated with them. Just click on the country name or angel picture to be taken to information and pictures from that part of the world.
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| South Africa |
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In 2007 I was fortunate enough to visit South Africa, where I came across many different angels. They were crafted in different materials and showed a great variety of styles.
Most of the angels I came across were made in the townships.
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To the left are a set of angels from painted wood and were made as Christmas ornaments.
The largest stands about 8 inches (20cms) tall. |
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| South Africa |
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In Johannesburg I found this lovely set of metal hanging angels.
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| South Africa |
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In Cape Town I found many different angels, showing the individuality of their makers.
These on the right are painted metal.
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| South Africa |
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Amongst my favourite South African Angels were these lovely ones made from disused drink cans. You can clearly see that one had come from a 'Red Bull' can, another from a 'Coke' can. The card that accompanied them said:
"These little Angels, made from recycled cool drink cans, are handcrafted by a group of Zulu school children as an extra-mural activity. These teenage students live in an area of Northern Zululand where the AIDS epidemic is very high, and are themselves orphans who have been left destitute.
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Your individual contribution in purchasing an Angel will impact directly on the students, assisting them to feed, clothe and educate themselves, and at the same time giving them a sense of pride and self worth.
It is hoped that, in a small way, this project will empower the youths with an entrepreneurial spirit, and to know that their future lies in their own hands."
Please see www.ilala.co.za for more information and products.The work is promoted by an organisation called Angels against Crime - please visit their web site www.angelsagainstcrime.co.za for more information. |
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| South Africa |
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There were many bead angels in Cape Town. Again being made as Christmas ornaments.
Many were only a couple of inches (5 cm's) tall. 2 tiny brooches (top left) were only 1 inch (2.5 cm's).
The ingenuity of the makers was shown in some that had beads threaded on to safety pins to make the skirt of the angel.
The right middle picture shows the angel's dress made from safety pins.
In the Pan African Market in the centre of Cape Town - a maze of craft stalls, wooden carving, ornaments, fabrics etc, I was delighted to come across a small trellis table with a young African man sat along side. He sat quietly threading beans on to thread, making bead angels . All he sold were these lovely little angels, in gold and silver beads (bottom right picture). I asked him his name; "Proud", he replied - he certainly looked very proud when I told him I collected angels and his were going all the way back to England. |
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| Netherlands |
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These were the first angels given to me many years ago by my husband Tony. They are made of fabric and stand about 4 inches (10 cms) tall.
I have them over my bed, so they look after me in my sleep. I have called them Hilda and Olive after two of my aunts from childhood. |
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| USA |
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During 2007 I visited the USA, spending time in Mount Shasta, California, then Phoenix and Sedona in Arizona . I came across a number of angels.
The one to the centre is a pottery one about 6 inches (15 cms) tall.
The one to the right is a native Indian angel, holding a baby, also made from pottery and painted. |
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| Italy: Rome |
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Many of the angel statues that I found in Italy were influenced by the images of the Catholic church.
The figures to the left are typical. They are made from painted wood, standing about 6 inches tall.
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Rome is full of angel statues. The one on the right is on the angel bridge in the centre of the city |
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| Italy: Naples |
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This little cherub came from Naples. It is made from brass and
stands about 3 inches (8cm) tall.
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| Barbados |
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This pair of unusual angel figures were given to me by my daughter, Caz, after she had visited Barbados in the Caribbean.
They are made from shells and straw.
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| Greece |
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This is a statue of the Greek Goddess Aphrodite, depicted with angel wings.
It is made from porcelain and stands about 10 inches (25 cms) tall.
My daughter, Caz brought it back from Athens.
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| Norway |
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This delightful pair of angels came from Stravanger, Norway.
Caz hunted high and low throughout the city, determined to find me an angel. Most shops only had trolls, but she found the only angel shop in the town and managed to bring these two back for me.
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| Philippines |
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These two hand made angels stand about 10 inches (25 cms) tall.
They are made from felt and decorated with beads.
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| France |
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This angel from Paris holds the Eiffel Tower.
She stands about 4 inches (10 cms) tall. |
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| Germany |
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These angels come from the Christmas market in Hamburg.
The angel in the middle is a Christmas tree decoration made from gingerbread and icing.
The one on the right is a hand made wooden decoration. As the blades on the top spin round the two angels in the centre turn. |
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| Alaska |
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This lovely hand painted angel was given to me by my daughter Caz and came from Skagway, Alaska.
She stands about 4 inches (10 cms) tall.
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| Kashmir |
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These two angels come from Kashmir, but I don't know whether they are from Indian Kashmir or Pakistani Kashmir.
My husband, Tony, purchased them in Doha, Qatar,in the Middle East, where there is a large asian expatriate community.
They are about 4 inches (10 cms) tall. |
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| QEII |
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My daughter, Caz, is an officer on board cruise liners. During the summer of 2007 she was on board Cunard's QEII for 4 months, including its 40th anniversary voyage around the UK.
We had the good fortune of touring the ship when it docked in Southampton. We also ate in the officer's mess - a place where very few get to see. |
I was delighted to see that the officer's mess was overseen by a magnificent gold painted wooden angel mounted on the wall, surrounded by other memorabilia.
This beautiful angel was about 3 feet (1 metre) tall. It was truly inspirational, knowing that it had travelled thousands of miles and accompanied the millions of passengers on their voyages. This angel was there protecting them all. However, it think it was a great shame that she was not on view to all that travelled with her...only the officers saw her. |
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