RA Pocket Shrine 218/? – Vintage Percy

/ April 27, 2020

A new week in this whole extraordinary time in our lives. How are you keeping? I’ve learnt another thing last week, in that my happiness and mental equilibrium during the crisis does not only depend on the state of my pantry (i.e. that it is well-stocked), but also on my creative output. I have observed that I have been happiest on the days when I “created” something. The days when I felt lethargic and did not push myself to do something creative, resulted in despondency. For those who want to give creativity a go, Herba and Die Pö’s monthly creative project is going into its final days. The current project prompt is “Saying Thank You”. The deadline is May 3rd. More info [in German] HERE. Speaking of creative projects – have you seen Kate’s creative post from yesterday? Have a look HERE – and a listen. Kate speaks as she shows off her fabulous creation on video.

As you can see from the post title, I have been dabbling with the mint tins again. This particular shrine has actually been sitting in my basket of unfinished projects for months. At some stage I started cutting paper and printing images, and then I never assembled the thing. The subject – Percy Courtenay – doesn’t really come that easily to mind as “shrine-worthy”. But he fits a vintage context. And that was a given, considering this fabulous tin:

Did this possibly come from you, Rachel? I particularly like what it says on the side:

Suffice to say, I couldn’t touch the outside of the tin. It’s vintage – and that means it’s sacrosanct. But the inside is another story. Here we go.

Yes, we will ignore the latter Percy, who turns out like a rather bad guy. But in the beginning he was really quite sweet, and that particular scene where he proposes to Marie, was really dreamy.

Would you like a look behind the scenes? It is mostly obscured because of Percy’s manly shoulders, but the back of the tin is a big vintage-y design made from lots of little cogs and wheels and bits.

Hard to photograph, I’m afraid.

I left some of the inside of the tin also untouched. It’s now upside down, but again, it was a piece of history, and it looks quite nice in its own right. Ehm, and I am *not* referring to Percy but to the printed inside of the tin 😂.

However, that original design is somewhat covered up by this little extra that I have added to the shrine. Isn’t this amazing? This is an original Bayer aspirin tin from the 1930s, given to me by one of our lovely American fan friends. It’s tiny and slim. But well, that’s a challenge Guylty gladly accepts. And so…

The small tin is attached with a magnet, btw. So it can be unfastened and taken out of the shrine.

No candles this time – because I didn’t want to risk damaging the tin. But given that this is a “two-in-one” offering, it’s still a good shrine, I reckon.

So, yeah, Percy. Not sure if anybody wants *him*… But as I said – he fits a vintage theme so well.

 

Related posts

63 thoughts on “RA Pocket Shrine 218/? – Vintage Percy”

  2. Wow, that’s a beauty! Yeah the pontefract tin was one I sent to you…its lovely to see it used because it would otherwise just be sat in a box some where in the house.
    Yeah I’m afraid I like Percy…well until he turns and I love the scene with with his hair like that and only a towel protecting his modesty! Lol
    I love the whole 3D effect and the colour scheme. Surely this is one for the birthday auctions because I can imagine a massive bidding war!

    Like

    Reply

    • I’m glad you approve. It took a long time, but this tin is just too good to hide it in my stash or anywhere else. I’m glad you parted with it 😉
      Percy was so sweet. I mean, let’s be honest – who wouldn’t want to be pursued with roses and dinner invites and clapped every night from the gallery? Pity he couldn’t cope with Marie’s fame.
      And what a great idea. It hadn’t occurred to me to keep it for a future auction. Perfect solution.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  3. This. Is. Fabulous. You know me, I love Percy. We’ll gloss over the later years. He is angelically beautiful in the beginning. ♥️🌹♥️🌹♥️

    Thanks for the link love. I am biting my tongue to not make a self-deprecating remark here. 🤐

    Like

    Reply

  6. Ode to Percy

    Percy, oh my Percy,
    You started out so nice,
    What happened to you Percy?
    What turned you on to vice?
    Was it liquor, cards or women,
    That turned you to a cad?
    Oh my dearest Percy,
    Your behavior makes me sad.
    But oh my lovely Percy,
    Though you hung out with some crooks.
    We are so thankful, Percy,
    You never lost your looks.

    Kathy Jones

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  7. Holy petunias! What a masterpiece! Regardless of how he turns out, Percy is a stunner, and I’m thrilled that he brought out such a terrific effort on your part. I love that all of the chaRActers can get the RAPS love.

    I’ve been trying to color as much as I can to keep up what little creativity I have, although our current heatwave and my medical situation have resulted in rather heightened pain in my arthritis-ridden hands and fingers. But I also feel a bit adrift if I don’t get some sort of creativity going on.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Ha, that is how I started out on the RAPS journey, Lolo. Initially I said I was going to do one shrine per character. And then the whole thing took off. (I also said at the beginning that I would never put RA into a shrine, but only his characters. Well, *that* went by the wayside quicker than you can say “Armitage”…)
      Colouring is such a meditative activity. I’m a little too impatient for it, but I can see how mandalas are a thing that soothes the soul. I hope the heat wave is not going to get too bad – or that there is finally a solution to the medical issue. Hugs!

      Like

      Reply

  8. Percy was too clean shaven for me I suppose this effect is only achieved by a wet shave perhaps with a cut throat razor 😰
    I remember looking up the real life Percy because I was interested in him, by the way my father’s forename was Percy he hated it and was called ‘John’ all his life lol.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Agree – and with the smooth oily lock, he looks like an olm 😂. Mind you, the sexiest olm I have ever seen…
      If the name Percy hadn’t been spoilt by this Percy (Courtenay), I would’ve christened my new old armchair “Percy”. Ah well, or maybe I still can. But I can somehow see how Percy sounds like a very fancy name – and that your dad was more comfortable with a less noticeable name.

      Like

      Reply

      • It’s funny really because my father was the youngest in a large family, Charles, Alfred, Eleanor, (shortened to Nell) Hilda, James (died tragically young) and then my father Percy.
        We knew nothing about James until my brother also a James investigated the family tree. Shame that my father had passed by then as we had so many questions.

        Like

        Reply

        • Fascinating story, Yve. Reminds me of the programme ‘Who do you think you are’ where all sorts of “family secrets” come to light. It’s tragic that things were forgotten or hidden.

          Like

          Reply

  9. It’s a gorgeous tin Guylty, the tin within a tin! I’m very fond of Percy early – and late! I like a cad! I’ve not seen it for a while but I think Marie Lloyd say something about his nose when they are looking at the baby. I wonder what RA thought of that.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Hehe, you and your cads, J!!!! Guy, Mulligan, Francis – Percy. Not all of them cads as such – but bad, bad boys. (Now that I have put it like that, I see the attraction, too 😉)
      Yes, there is that scene in the show where Percy and Marie are looking at their sleeping baby, and Percy says “I think she has my nose”. And Marie says “oh God, Percy no, you shouldn’t even joke about that!” I agree I have wondered, too, whether that was a piece of script that felt very close to the bone to RA. Especially if he was always so self-conscious about his nose…

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  10. This is pure genius, Guylty – the two-in-one is a first I believe. I loved the mention of the Marie Lloyd number – my grandma was a fan of The Good Old Days TV show and used to sing the song to me.

    Oh, Mr Percy, what shall I do?
    Guylty’s made a double shrine devoted just to you
    If you’d turn away from the Dark Side, you’d be my superstar
    Oh Mr Percy what a naughty boy you are!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  11. Oh, my. what talented ladies we have here! ❤ Kudos to all.
    Love the vintage style of the tin, especially The sweets that do you good sign. Richard always does that 😀

    Like

    Reply

  12. This is gorgeous, Guylty. I like it that you have maintained the vintage theme on the inside, and of course the genius of the tin within a tin!
    I feel good if I do something creative in a day, but for me that includes cooking a delicious meal. I also feel good if I read an Ursula K. LeGuin story : ) Or get a cleaning job done. I give myself points for little victories.

    Like

    Reply

    • I completely consider cooking a creative activity, too. Although in my case it is the baking rather than the cooking I enjoy. (I bake every day – a pumpkin seed loaf one day, and a cake the other. That ensures that I *definitely* get one creative activity in every day *haha*)
      I must read Ursula Le Guin some day. She has been recommended to me so often.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

      • Baking is such a comfort. I am not a natural baker because you have to be precise! But when it works, it’s the best : )
        LeGuin was such a pioneer, so intelligent, so humane. And it’s not all about fight scenes and horror like so much of the fantasy one reads now.

        Like

        Reply

          • Yes! You could start with “A Wizard of Earthsea” which is the original story about a boy going to wizard school (obviously–ahem–borrowed by someone else). It’s part of a trilogy. For less fantasy and more sf, I recommend “The Left Hand of Darkness” which is a stunning tale about a world where everyone is gender-fluid. LeGuin was the first woman to win the Nebula and Hugo awards, for that book. My personal favorite is “Lavinia,” a retelling of the Aeneid from the point of view of the woman who becomes Aeneas’ wife. It’s very beautiful storytelling.

            Like

            Reply

  13. I think my favorite RAPS creations of yours are the ones featuring vintage tins and this one is a stunner. I love all the vintage details in this one…and the fact that you’ve left the original text on the inside lid “Royal Institute of Public Health & Hygiene” seems a bit of a nod to our current situation.
    Happy to see Percy featured in this one. He’s another one of those characters that has the shades of good and bad that RA plays so well.
    Kudos to Kate, too. I enjoyed her video a lot. You ladies are so talented – thanks for lifting my spirits 🥰

    Like

    Reply

    • The vintage tins are just so precious. I am very grateful for the old tins that have been gifted to me – they make stunning little pocket shrines. And especially now that I have discovered the “vintage style”.
      Haha, I didn’t even notice the institute of health and hygiene. I just saw the design that looked like a certificate and thought it looked too nice to cover it up. What an eerie, funny coincidence that it actually has relevance right now.
      Glad to be lifting your spirits, D. Hope you are doing well! xx

      Like

      Reply

      • Ha! Speaking of eerie funny coincidences, that certificate is dated 1953 *whispers-my birth year* so I felt an instant connection ☺️ I’m doing well thanks. So far so good, none of my family has been ill.
        Thanks again for sharing this beauty! I always look forward to your posts they are guaranteed to cheer the heart & the mind- especially gratifying and needed by so many right now. ❤️

        Like

        Reply

        • Aw, thank you, D! I’m really happy if anyone reads at all, so if it cheers you up, that’s enough for me!
          Glad to know you and your loved ones are well! xx

          Like

          Reply

  15. I’m not a fan of Percy at all, except maybe in the half dressed scenes, which are usually the ones giffed and screencapped! 😉 I’ve only watched MML once and the main character of Marie irritated me from the start. Very shallow of me, but I can’t get past Percy’s hair style, and now that Yve has mentioned it, the clean shaven look on RA doesn’t do it for me as much as the stubble.
    None of that however stops me loving the vintage theme in such a lovely old tin. 😊

    Like

    Reply

    • I couldn’t agree with you more, Mezz. I never warmed to Marie, either. (I also felt that the casting on the show was a bit off. I was going to write here that I found Jessie Wallace a bit too old for the role, but upon research it turns out that she is exactly the same age as RA.) But in terms of Percy – this period look is not really up my street, either. And needless to say, neither is an abuser. But damn, at the beginning he is irresistible – despite the clean chin.

      Like

      Reply

Let me know what you think!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.