Hap Henriksen
The Dragons
 
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In this, the late 20th Century, man’s actions of activities are not governed to any great extent by superstition.  This was not the case, however, hundreds of years ago, when our forefathers lived in mortal dread of things which today hold no fear for us.  I have created a series of Dragons, which wholeheartedly embody Lilliput Lane Lands of Legend’s philosophy “History That Was and Never Was”.  For these Dragons may or may not have existed.  However, I would like to think that they did.

Allow me to explain something about Dragons.

Since time immemorial – before written history in fact, folklore from nearly every part of the world tells of Dragons.  These fall into certain categories.

There was the European Dragon chiefly of North German and Scandinavian mythology.  One of the best loved epic Viking tales recounts how the hero Beowulf died saving his people from a fearsome dragon.

The British have two types of Dragons – the two-legged Wyvern and the winged but legless Nemetoda.  These were the basis of many ancient legends, and even provided the opportunity for the patron saint of England, St George to gain everlasting fame, when he rescued a damsel in distress from a dreaded Dragon which was holding his people to ransom.

The Welsh to this day hold the symbol of the Dragon dear to their hearts.  Instead of fearing their Dragon they hold it in such esteem that it appears on their national flag and the Red Dragon (or Ddraig Goch) is a symbol of Welsh pride known across the world.

Throughout Greece, Asia Minor, Southern Russia and North Africa, the Dragon as it appears in tales recounted for thousands of years, is consistent.  A creature of danger whom only the bravest of heroes might challenge and overcome.

The Oriental Dragon, far from being feared, has assumed a place in Chinese, Japanese and Indonesian legend and plays a full part in normal life, with variously good and bad human-like attributes.  These Dragons usually had horse like heads and sharp horns and flew by balancing between the earth’s magnetic field and the prevailing winds.

The inspiration for each of my creations is in myth and legends told and retold through the centuries, but still as popular as ever…

 

Hap Henriksen

The picture below was on the front of one of the early catalogues, note Hap himself in the picture frame