Diana Smith

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Diana Smith, CROFAN, THE CHEF, 2019

Ceramic, 13 x 4 x 3 in. (33 x 10.2 x 7.6 cm)

Cooking is my passion, but my quest is the perfect dish. Each morning, I begin the day in the garden choosing the freshest herbs, spices, and vegetables. I can cast a charm net in the stream and get an amazing delicacy, a Snout Nosed Red Bellied Green Guppy, excellent flavor. Next, I head into the kitchen where all the bowls have lined themselves up on the table, wobbling with excitement for today’s adventure. I spread out the herbs, spices, and vegetables and perform the chopping charm to set the knives to work. My favorite carving knife, Baldor, has already started filleting the Guppy outside on the stump. I'm feeling the excitement; this could be the perfect dish! I suddenly realized that a tasty addition would be the elusive Round Headed Red Spotted Spore-bearing Toadstool. I don my coat and wizard hat, command my walking stick to follow, and we all head to the forest. My walking stick, Martin, is also a premier guide and has found this elusive Toadstool twice before. As we continue through the dark forest, I hear a rustling and spot movement out of the corner of my eye. I could swear that I saw a Horn-billed Road Running Fowl, judging from the three-foot purple tail. Marlin and I are off in hot pursuit, as I cast a net and Marlin flies to secure it ahead of the creative. Next, there is a loud plop and it is caught! Securing the Fowl with a sleeping charm. I put him in my bag, and we continue the search of the Toadstool. I can hardly concentrate on the search because my mind is racing ahead envisioning a plate of Snout Nosed Red Bellied Green Guppy accompanied by Horn-billed Road Running Fowl covered with shaved Round Headed Red Spotted Spore-bearing Toadstools...the perfect dish is within my reach!

DSM127

$850

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Diana Smith, FLEIDMAN, STEWARD OF THE WINGS, 2019

Ceramic, 13 x 4 1/2 x 3 in. (33 x 11.4 x 7.6 cm)

In the earliest of time, great storms festered and boiled beyond the sea, far from the sight of man, where they grew to giant size and strength, then unsealed their fury as they swept toward the isles and land, swallowing all that lay in their paths. Thus, it was that Kingdom's Counsel of the Wise convened to study the matter and seek protection against these monstrous bursts of water and wind for which no army was a match. It was decided that I, Feidhlim, Steward of Wings, possessed the wisdom, skill, and plan capable of protecting our kingdom. While no man can see far enough nor travel the sea fast enough to see what is fomenting beyond, my birds can. Swiftly flying day and night, their strong wings carry them to places man has never seen and their sharp breaks protect them along the way. The birds return to me with word of what the great storms are planning and knowledge of where and when they will arrive at our shore, and there, at our shore, I meet them and am their match, staying the storms, save for the rain and breeze needed by those who farm our land and hunt our game.

DSM126

$850

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Diana Smith, GAETH, THE SCRIPTORIAN, 2019

Ceramic, 12 1/2 x 7 x 7 1/2 in. (31.8 x 17.8 x 19.1 cm)

As the country's only Scriptorian (medieval librarian), my days and nights are filled with duties. I have the most important job in this land. I catalogue, read, clean, restore and in general maintain all the great writings of our time. One of the most difficult tasks is cataloguing. For instance, does "The Wizards Guide to Dragon Etiquette" go in the self-help section or the pets section? And "Basic Fairy Communication" would seem to go in the language section, however, reading it reveals it is more of a spiritual lifestyle handbook. All this mundane rhetoric aside, keeping track of who checks out what is the greatest task. According to the "Regional Database of Diverse Wizard Activity," I must report all unusual check - outs. Following the guidelines, I realize that one young wizard, Macklin, seems to have an unusually large interest in transfiguration, which actually is going out of fashion now due to the side effects. In the last month he has checked out "Tudor's Transfiguration Beginners Guide," "Transfiguration for Dummies," "Advanced Transfiguration Charms" and "Complications of Reversing Transfiguration." I added his name to the list, and a representative was sent to discuss it with him. However, no one could find him anywhere. A few days later, I realized that an opossum was requesting the check-out desk. The odd thing was that the opossum was wearing a beanie exactly like the one Macklin always wore. The next day I put the book "Sure-Fire Remedies for Transfiguration Blunders" on the floor. We will see what happens this evening; hopefully, I have completed my duty.

DSM128

$850

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Diana Smith, MIDIR, KING OF THE ISLE OF FALGA, 2019

Ceramic, 22 1/2 x 11 1/2 x 11 1/2 in. (57.1 x 29.2 x 29.2 cm)

Far below the surface of this earth exists an otherworld, a land of enchantment, magic, and supernatural beings. As king, I rule this world and belong here. Time runs on a different clock in this place, in fact, time often stops completely. Let me introduce my entourage who accompany me at all times. Raghall the Bluegill rests on my right shoulder and keeps me current on events. Morrigan, who has my left ear, advises me on battle strategies. My heir, Rian, waits in his chamber atop my head for the day when he will be able to stretch his scales and rule over the land in my stead. His guard, Brighid, rests above him, protecting him with her life. A plot of treason is at our back and threatens even my young heir; Brighid has prepared herself by attaining the highest level in Protection Charms. Until of late, we had believed our gates were impenetrable. That was before a cloaked stranger appeared within the walls of my kingdom. My countries caught up to him and he questioned. Evidently, he crept through when time stopped for a short while (we must work on that). The stranger relayed that he had taken shelter within the safety of a tree one night and fallen asleep. Shortly, he was awakened by voices. He overheard the tree conversing with a vulture that had passed a battalion of grotesque, angry trolls coming to attack our kingdom. We are now fortifying the siege; I know full well we will be victorious having been warned. I will end this entry until the marrow.

DSM129

$2,500

Diana Smith, CATHAL THE LIBERATOR
Ceramic

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Diana Smith, CATHAL THE LIBERATOR

Ceramic, 16 x 9 x 12 in. (40.6 x 22.9 x 30.5 cm)

Early one misty morning, I stood on the shore of Dingle Bay by the Celtic Sea gazing at the choppy waves as they swirled around my scaly toes. Faint plumes of smoke puffed occasionally from my nostrils, a vestige of my reptilian heritage. Most everyone in the vicinity knew that my great-great grandfather was indeed a dragon, but a dragon who always ought justice and freedom for the oppressed. Lost in thought, I suddenly become aware of a large fish flying out of the water! "What brings you to leap from the salty sea and perch upon my shoulder?" I inquired. "Aye, Cathal, your reputation proceeds you; we need your help. Our colony lives here in the bay, but our numbers are rapidly diminishing! A grotesque monster has invaded our waters and is wreaking havoc, dining greedily on us! He's a horrid looking creature with a huge, pointed nose, jaws filled with a razor-sharp teeth, and nearly transparent skin... we are in dire need of the liberator!" I knew immediately what the creature was by the description. Surely, it's not possible, I thought, but it must be so. A goblin shark would be very rare in this area, not seen since the time of my great-great-grandfather. In fact, it was a goblin shark that killed him so long ago. My heartbeat rapidly as I pondered the possible that it could be the same one since goblin sharks can live for hundreds of years. In order not to face grandfather's same demise, I must develop a cunning plan and extremely quickly. I race to my ancestor's cave, found the ancient Dragon Handbook of Offensive Tactics, and slowly and furtively slid into the swirling dark water...

DSM008

$1,000