Sadly, Mike and Barbara's trophy met with disaster shortly afterwards, when a member of the public dropped it and the glass base was broken.
Then master craftsman John Fenn of Egloskerry offered to create a new base in the spirit of multi-arts fostered in the project. What the award represents is, of course, unchanged. But the new base echoes themes from the tale, and is a masterpiece in itself.
John has created the base from carefully selected centuries old Cornish bog-oak, created, of course, by immersion. Untouched, the hollows of the oak looked like a coastline with cliffs and caves. The side profile of the oak was that of a Selkie. The nail heads represent strawberries, and silver leaves and flowers are delicately grafted between.
The original vertical element of the award is incorporated in a strong brass mounting that replicates the wording of the original base, and the filligree shows the profile of the Cornish coast. It is a three-dimensional masterpiece.
We are delighted that Return to Lyonesse now embraces story, song, instrumental music, dress, accessory, wood-carving, and brass work. It is a true multi-arts project, a story for us all.