Sharon Gonzalez 07 Sep 2008

STILL VERY BEAUTIFUL, ARMANDO. WILL ALWAYS BE BEAUTIFUL. I HAVE A BOX COLLECTION AND HAVE ALWAYS BEEN DRAWN TO BOXES. WHY? PERHAPS BECAUSE THEY ARE FUNCTIONAL ART? NOT SURE, BUT I KNOW A BEAUTIFUL BOX WHEN I SEE ONE, AND THIS IS DEFINITELY A GEM.

Hiromi Green 02 Mar 2008

When I saw this I thought it was Japanese box! Yes, this is beautiful painting, Armando. Very dedicated work!

Tree Pruitt 10 May 2006

Well, I too am a collector of boxes, and I must say Terry spoke well for me also! Lovely Armando! I certainly would display it with pride. :)

Les Jobes 09 May 2006

Wonderful to see something so lovely used and beautifully decorated! :o)

Terry Harris 07 May 2006

Oh, Armando! This is a lovely box! Many of us try all sorts of art, this is beautiful. The worn look shows that it has been touched and treasured often. That adds to the charm of it! I collect boxes myself, and occasional, decorate, by paint, or embellishments to keep or to give as gifts. I sold a few as well. I would have been drawn to this one in a shop and bought it. It is lovely, and not so overly done. Sometimes I want a simple, elegant design so not to take away from the box beauty. This is perfect, so stop knocking it. You are showing us so many facets of your art, and talents. Thank you!

Steph Salt 07 May 2006

What a lovely Box Armando, and you painted it yourself, you are very versatile indeed.

Richard Delay Sirs 07 May 2006

I have my treasure too Armando and have happy memories just as you have with this work.. Bravo my friend... Bravo~!

jorge gallardo 06 May 2006

You are very versitile...what's wrong with the box? Fix it then! What's in the box? Peyote???

Sondra Ertzberger 06 May 2006

lovely work Armando ^-^

Ana Tirolese 06 May 2006

It is beautiful

Reba McDonald 06 May 2006

Beautiful work Armando.

bianca thomas 06 May 2006

INCREDIBLE WORK....

hendrik arie baartman 06 May 2006

Pandora's Box. The first mortals lived on earth in a state of perfect innocence and bliss. The air was pure and balmy; the sun shone brightly all the year; the earth brought forth delicious fruit in abundance; and beautiful, fragrant flowers bloomed everywhere. Man was content. Extreme cold, hunger, sickness, and death were unknown. Jupiter, who justly ascribed a good part of this beatific condition to the gift conferred by Prometheus, was greatly displeased, and tried to devise some means to punish mankind for the acceptance of the heavenly fire. With this purpose in view, he assembled the gods on Mount Olympus, where, in solemn council, they decided to create woman; and as soon as she had been artfully fashioned, each one endowed her with some special charm, to make her more attractive, " The crippled artist-god, Illustrious, moulded from the yielding clay A bashful virgin's image, as advis'd Saturnian Jove. " But now when the fair mischief, seeming-good, His hand had perfected, he led her forth Exulting in her grac'd attire, the gift Of Pallas, in the midst of gods and men. On men and gods in that same moment seiz'd The ravishment of wonder, when they saw The deep deceit, th' inextricable snare." " Hesiod (Elton's tr.) Their united efforts were crowned with the utmost success. Nothing was lacking, except a name for the peerless creature; and the gods, after due consideration, decreed she should be called Pandora. They then bade Mercury take her to Prometheus as a gift from heaven; but he, knowing only too well that nothing good would come to him from the gods, refused to accept her, and cautioned his brother Epimetheus to follow his example. Unfortunately Epimetheus was of a confiding disposition, and when he beheld the maiden he exclaimed, " Surely so beautiful and gentle a being can bring no evil !" and accepted her most joyfully. The first days of their union were spent in blissful wanderings, hand in hand, under the cool forest shade; in weaving garlands of fragrant flowers; and in refreshing themselves with the luscious fruit, which hung so temptingly within reach. One lovely evening, while dancing on the green, they saw Mercury, Jupiter's messenger, coming towards them. His step was slow and weary, his garments dusty and travel-stained, and he seemed almost to stagger beneath the weight of a huge box which rested upon his shoulders. Pandora immediately ceased dancing, to speculate with feminine curiosity upon the contents of the chest. In a whisper she begged Epimetheus to ask Mercury what brought him thither. Epimetheus complied with her' request; but Mercury evaded the question, asked permission to deposit his burden in their dwelling for safe-keeping, professing himself too weary to convey it to its destination that day, and promised to call for it shortly. The permission was promptly granted. Mercury, with a sigh of relief, placed the box in one corner, and then departed, refusing all hospitable offers of rest and refreshment. He had scarcely crossed the threshold, when Pandora expressed a strong desire to have a peep at the contents of the mysterious box; but Epimetheus, surprised and shocked, told her that her curiosity was unseemly, and then, to dispel the frown and pout seen for the first time on the fair face of his beloved, he entreated her to come out into the fresh air and join in the merry games of their companions. For the first time, also, Pandora refused to comply with his request. Dismayed, and very much discouraged, Epimetheus sauntered out alone, thinking she would soon join him, and perhaps by some caress atone for her present wilfulness. Left alone with the mysterious casket, Pandora became more and more inquisitive. Stealthily she drew near and examined it with great interest, for it was curiously wrought of dark wood, and surmounted by a delicately carved head, of such fine workmanship that it seemed to smile and encourage her. Around the box a glittering golden cord was wound, and fastened on top in an intricate knot. Pandora, who prided herself specially on her deft fingers, felt sure she could unfasten it, and reasoning that it would not be indiscreet to untie it if she did not raise the lid, she set to work. Long she strove, but all in vain. Ever and anon the laughing voices of Epimetheus and his companions, playing in the luxuriant shade, were wafted in on the summer breeze. Repeatedly she heard them call and beseech her to join them; yet she persisted in her attempt. She was just on the point of giving up in despair, when suddenly the refractory knot yielded to her fumbling fingers, and the cord, unrolling, dropped on the floor. Pandora had repeatedly fancied that sounds like whispers issued from the box. The noise now seemed to increase, and she breathlessly applied her ear to the lid to ascertain whether it really proceeded from within. Imagine, therefore, her surprise when she distinctly heard these words, uttered in the most pitiful accents: " Pandora, dear Pandora, have pity upon us ! Free us from this gloomy prison! Open, open, we beseech you!" Pandora's heart beat so fast and loud, that it seemed for a moment to drown all other sounds. Should she open the box ? Just then a familiar step outside made her start guiltily. Epimetheus was coming, and she knew he would urge her again to come out, and would prevent the gratification of her curiosity. Precipitately, therefore, she raised the lid to have one little peep before he came in. Now, Jupiter had malignantly crammed into this box all the diseases, sorrows, vices, and crimes that afflict poor humanity; and the box was no sooner opened, than all these ills flew out, in the guise of horrid little brown-winged creatures, closely resembling moths. These little insects fluttered about, alighting, some upon Epimetheus, who had just entered, and some upon Pandora, pricking and stinging them most unmercifully. They then flew out through the open door and windows, and fastened upon the merrymakers without, whose shouts of joy were soon changed into wails of pain and anguish. Epimetheus and Pandora had never before experienced the faintest sensation of pain or anger; but, as soon as these winged evil spirits had stung them, they began to weep, and, alas ! quarrelled for the first time in their lives. Epimetheus reproached his wife in bitterest terms for her thoughtless action; but in the very midst of his vituperation he suddenly heard a sweet little voice entreat for freedom. The sound proceeded from the unfortunate box, whose cover Pandora had dropped again, in the first moment of her surprise and pain. " Open, open, and I will heal your wounds! Please let me out! " it pleaded. The tearful couple viewed each other inquiringly, and listened again. Once more they heard the same pitiful accents; and Epimetheus bade his wife open the box and set the speaker free, adding very amiably, that she had already done so much harm by her ill-fated curiosity, that it would be difficult to add materially to its evil consequences, and that, perchance, the box contained some good spirit, whose ministrations might prove beneficial. It was well for Pandora that she opened the box a second time, for the gods, with a sudden impulse of compassion, had concealed among the evil spirits one kindly creature, Hope, whose mission was to heal the wounds inflicted by her fellow prisoners. "Hope sole remain'd within, nor took her flight, Beneath the vessel's verge conceal'd from light."

PMyers 06 May 2006

It is still a beauty.

Anne Vis 06 May 2006

beautiful, Armando!

Joke Schotting 06 May 2006

Awesome work,Armando!!!!

Kukua Akumanyi 06 May 2006

I Do...it's beautiful...

Nelly van Nieuwenhuijzen 06 May 2006

beautiful work from the past Armando. It's touching and at the same time elegant. The photos are lovely too.

Loredana 05 May 2006

I think things like this take you back to the time that you created them , and they have a very special meaning Armando its a treasure :)

Christine brand 05 May 2006

I think it has grown more beautiful with time, Man Do...Be careful your sensitive side is showing...hehehe. Your talents are never ending and your array of intelligence goes beyond the average primate...just kidding you...So what is kept in this tender box? It holds a world of stories...I bet...perhaps a novel lives in the contents...Inanimate ever alive, to me...all things moving with energy even though appearing to be still...interesting you and your mind...I love the it!!! this is what makes life beautiful, the little boxes and their treasures...

Emily Reed 05 May 2006

Super work!

thea walstra 05 May 2006

It is elegant and beautiful Armando. A little treasure for treasures? Awesome work