Astrid's Work - The Scribe

The Scribe 1978

In 1978 Astrid was working on a piece depicting an early Jewish scribe. This is possible part of the Museum of the Jewish Diaspora and if that is the case then the work exhibited there will be constructed of Astrid’s magic composite material.

I photographed it in London, but Astrid never seemed to be quite sure for whom it was being made. I gathered that it would be for the Museum in Israel and it was not until many years later that I found this to be true.

However, the original maquette that I photographed was used to create a mould from which two bronze castings were made. The first was for a Jewish group, but when the price for this casting was revealed they found that they could not afford it. It was a very complex piece, making the casting particularly difficult.

I do remember Astrid being very concerned over this. She felt that the burden of meeting the casting cost would rest on her, and she really had no idea how she would pay for it. Fortunately a buyer from Australia was found, and that is where the first casting is most likely to this day.

The second casting was made for a buyer in South America, and Astrid could breath once more.

The original maquette survives in private hands and one can only hope that at least one more casting can be made to be retained in the UK.

The size of the maquette is 20” x 20” x 15” high. A magnificently observed work of art.