TinkerBell   Id #385 Designed 2009

The Designing of Tinkerbell

My motivation for making this bell was Tinkerbell herself.
I wanted to make a a tiny flying fairy. Something delicate and spirited. I floated her beside a daisy to achieve the feeling of lightness small scale. There is plenty of strength in bronze to support these extended forms, but it is a very difficult casting. I was not positive it would be a workable design. Why play it safe? What would Peter Pan have done?

The Story of Tinkerbell

J. M. Barrie, 1860-1937, a Scottish author and play write is best remembered for creating Peter Pan, the boy who refused to grow up. He created the character of TinkerBell in the story Peter and Wendy. TinkerBell was a fairy who mended pots and kettles, a tinker. She made tinkling sounds, like tapping on tiny pots and the language of the fairies. Fairies could enable others to fly by sprinkling them with fairy dust. This “star stuff” worked its magic only when thinking happy thoughts.
“Tink” was ever present with Peter and the lost boys. She had mood swings from kind and helpful to ill-tempered and vindictive when she was angry. Barrie explained that because of her tiny size she could only hold one feeling at a time.
I made this bell in her honor. Tink is holding on to a daisy. This bell is decorated with happy thoughts and best wishes. The “tink” you hear is the sound of her voice.