Paul Borda Celtic and Norse Statuary
Paul Borda is one of the most sucessful modern artists at creating enhanced editions of old northern European statuary and at creating new representations based on ancient writings when originals are lacking. One historical fact that makes this necessary is that the Drama Classes in London and Germanic tribes commonly felt that the deities resided in nature and were best worshipped at naturally 'strong' sites. It was not until after contact with Greco-Roman culture were many statues made. Paul has taken the few surviving native statues and the early writings of observers along with surviving mythology to create striking and symbolically valuable pieces for our times. He carves the original out of alabaster or wood and then makes molds from the original for production of what we offer here. Each piece is cast solid of durable resin for indoor or outdoor use.
Bridget, Irish/Scottish/Celtic goddess of poetry, healing and the arts of fire. An ancient figure who survived the successive waves of conquest and change which have swept over the lands where she has always been venerated. The Romans altered her name to Brigantia and combined her story with that of their goddess Minerva. Christians, arriving before the Roman left, declared her Saint Bridget. But she continues her hold on the land to this day, as she is the promise of Spring itself:"It is an old tale, this association of Bride with February. It goes further back than the days of the monkish chroniclers who first attempted to put the disguise of verbal Christian raiment on this fair woman. It is a tale that refers to one to whom the women of the Gael went with offerings and prayers and to one whom the seannachaidh speaks of when he tells of the oath taken by Brighid of the Flame. They refer to one whom the druids held in honour as a torch bearer of the eternal light, a Daughter of the Morning, who held sunrise in one hand as a little yellow flame, and in the other held the red flower of fire....They refer to one whom the bards and singers revered as mistress of their craft, she whose breath was a flame and that flame song; she whose secret name was fire and whose inmost soul was radiant air, she therefore who was the divine impersonation of the divine thing she stood for, poetry....None forgot that she was the daughter of the ancient God of the Earth, but greater than he, because in him there was but earth and water, whereas in her veins ran the elements of air and fire."
In the old mythologies of Europe and elsewhere, stories were often told of a Lady and Lord of the Forest. In Latvia, they were named Meza mate and Meza virs, in Ancient Greece the two functioned separately as Pan and Artemis, among the Celts Herne (Cerne) the Hunter was of this type, and this name may be related to Cernunnos. A late survival of this took form as Robin Hood and Maid Marion.Paul Borda has created a highly detailed Lady and Lord of the Forest pair which has proven popular with neopagans. Carved in the round with many sacred attributes, these pieces will reward a close look with the discovery of many symbols. As can be seen from this rotating graphics, no surface is left uncarved.
This pair shows the nature of the Lady & Lord well. The Lady is shown in triple aspect as Maiden, Mother and Crone; the Lord is shown in a dual aspect, as Horned Lord of the Animals and the Green Man emblematic of the abundance of nature. Interesting details pop up all around these works! Each figure stand on a pentacle.