The pookies have become an integral part of life at Mpata, since being found as tiny orphans the size of a match box they have grown into beautiful and charismatic animals. The brothers Pookie and Pookino spend their days in a specially built aviary on the veranda, where they sleep in a cosy cot. They are nocturnal animals and become active as the sun starts to go down. By the time it is twilight over the Umwimsi Valley they are bursting with energy. They are then brought into the house where they leap from one end of the room to the other. When the household goes to sleep the pookies move into Alexander and Forbes’s room where they cause as much mayhem as they can.
After years of experimenting with different designs and prototypes, Patrick is finally satisfied with his new Warthog Belt Buckle. Made in the classic western style, on closer inspection the buckle reveals a lively tableau of the antics of an African favourite: the warthog’s rutting, rubbing, rustling and rooting.
This new piece reflects the influence of the great Japanese netsuke carvers on Patrick’s work. He has always been fascinated by the intricate work of these 18th century artisans. The entwined crocodiles reminded Patrick of couples and their quest to bind together despite all the obstacles that life may confront them with, including teeth!
Philip Lawson Johnston returns to the Patrick Mavros showroom in London, with another exhibition of beautiful hand-engraved glassware and animal themed pieces.
