Comments on: "My Favorite Museum Exhibit": John Lennon's Rolls Royce http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 01:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Sean Rodman http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1336893 Sean Rodman Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1336893 Excellent suggestion - I'll forward that to our curators. Excellent suggestion – I’ll forward that to our curators.

]]> By: Sean Rodman http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1336891 Sean Rodman Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1336891 That's pretty cool, though. Kind of the inverse to the banana coloured Rolls... That’s pretty cool, though. Kind of the inverse to the banana coloured Rolls…

]]> By: Sean Rodman http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1336889 Sean Rodman Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1336889 I had originally thought this as well - his glasses re-arranged.  But the flipped Libra symbol theory is a good one as well... I had originally thought this as well – his glasses re-arranged.  But the flipped Libra symbol theory is a good one as well…

]]> By: Sean Rodman http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1336886 Sean Rodman Fri, 03 Feb 2012 18:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1336886 The letterhead is a great connection that we hadn't seen before - we'll follow up with that blog and see what else we can turn up. The letterhead is a great connection that we hadn’t seen before – we’ll follow up with that blog and see what else we can turn up.

]]> By: Eric Riley http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1336464 Eric Riley Fri, 03 Feb 2012 05:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1336464 Two things immediately came to mind.  The first was that it was reminiscent of the "Vesica Piscis" also known as the "chalice well" design.  But that images has the two circles intersecting creating a lozenge and the line is at a 90 degree angle to this one.  So it's close but not quite.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesica_piscis The other thing that came to mind was the image of The Devil in Crowley's "Thoth Tarot."  The goat there is posed over two testes which have dancing people inside, but the two spheres are bisected by a rod with an Egyptian style winged cap.  http://passingstrnge.tumblr.com/post/1466407821/xv-the-devil-thoth-tarot-deck-by-lady-frieda  Though that one is not circumscribed... I keep looking at this and thinking that it reminds me of a magical symbol. I tried a whole round of google image searching and all I'm getting is spreadsheets and psychedelia.  Two things immediately came to mind.  The first was that it was reminiscent of the “Vesica Piscis” also known as the “chalice well” design.  But that images has the two circles intersecting creating a lozenge and the line is at a 90 degree angle to this one.  So it’s close but not quite.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vesica_piscis

The other thing that came to mind was the image of The Devil in Crowley’s “Thoth Tarot.”  The goat there is posed over two testes which have dancing people inside, but the two spheres are bisected by a rod with an Egyptian style winged cap.  http://passingstrnge.tumblr.com/post/1466407821/xv-the-devil-thoth-tarot-deck-by-lady-frieda  Though that one is not circumscribed…

I keep looking at this and thinking that it reminds me of a magical symbol. I tried a whole round of google image searching and all I’m getting is spreadsheets and psychedelia. 

]]> By: Stephen Bell http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1336292 Stephen Bell Fri, 03 Feb 2012 01:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1336292 Thanks for that: interesting to see how inaccurate my memory of the object's detail was. Significantly different from the image in my mind; but clearly it's the right one :) Thanks for that: interesting to see how inaccurate my memory of the object’s detail was. Significantly different from the image in my mind; but clearly it’s the right one :)

]]> By: Dean Patrick Steckel http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335805 Dean Patrick Steckel Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335805 Well, I can't believe nobody has seen it yet.  It's the emblem of the Doom Patrol.  Lennon was a member during the '60s.   Well, I can’t believe nobody has seen it yet.  It’s the emblem of the Doom Patrol.  Lennon was a member during the ’60s.  

]]> By: Mujokan http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335803 Mujokan Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335803 The line is horizontal, as can be seen on the Kenwood stationery. The line is horizontal, as can be seen on the Kenwood stationery.

]]> By: Mujokan http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335794 Mujokan Thu, 02 Feb 2012 17:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335794 I think there is some confusion as to who did the painting. There is an invoice from Steve Weaver who did the work on behalf of J.P. Fallon Ltd. I think there is some confusion as to who did the painting. There is an invoice from Steve Weaver who did the work on behalf of J.P. Fallon Ltd.

]]> By: Wingnut http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335746 Wingnut Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335746 Some more detailed (no pun intended) information on the painted Rolls: http://beatles.ncf.ca/rolls.html Some more detailed (no pun intended) information on the painted Rolls:

http://beatles.ncf.ca/rolls.html

]]> By: Mario Carneiro Neto http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335732 Mario Carneiro Neto Thu, 02 Feb 2012 16:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335732 The idea to paint the car was by a Dutch artist who was a part of the artist collective known as "The Fool", who also painted Eric Clapton's SG guitar that he used with Cream. The car itself was painted by gypsies. The idea to paint the car was by a Dutch artist who was a part of the artist collective known as “The Fool”, who also painted Eric Clapton’s SG guitar that he used with Cream. The car itself was painted by gypsies.

]]> By: esobocinski http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335687 esobocinski Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:55:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335687 Roof murals are usually intended for viewing from the front or back.  I expect that this is no different, and so is a pair of circles over and under a horizontal line.  This seems to me to be a classic reflection ideogram, where the horizontal line is a horizon and the lower circle is the top circle reflected.  Is it the sun or the moon?  Reflection would be consistent with his transcendental leanings. Roof murals are usually intended for viewing from the front or back.  I expect that this is no different, and so is a pair of circles over and under a horizontal line.  This seems to me to be a classic reflection ideogram, where the horizontal line is a horizon and the lower circle is the top circle reflected.  Is it the sun or the moon?  Reflection would be consistent with his transcendental leanings.

]]> By: Ian Rogers http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335667 Ian Rogers Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:19:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335667 It actually looks a lot like the symbol for libra, turned on its side & mirrored. Maybe a riff on the figure 8 for infinity? It actually looks a lot like the symbol for libra, turned on its side & mirrored. Maybe a riff on the figure 8 for infinity?

]]> By: Tom B http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335636 Tom B Thu, 02 Feb 2012 12:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335636 Any info on who painted it? Looks a lot like <a href="http://www.flickr.com/groups/fileteado/pool/" rel="nofollow">fileteado porteño</a>, a vernacular style from Argentina. Any info on who painted it? Looks a lot like fileteado porteño, a vernacular style from Argentina.

]]> By: Hanglyman http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335607 Hanglyman Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335607 It's an infinity pill, the kind with an indentation down the middle so it's easy to split in half. It’s an infinity pill, the kind with an indentation down the middle so it’s easy to split in half.

]]> By: Beanolini http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335582 Beanolini Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335582 John Lennon's Rolls? My local museum had to make do with <a href="http://arttattler.com/archiveyokoono.html" rel="nofollow">Yoko Ono's hearse</a>. John Lennon’s Rolls? My local museum had to make do with Yoko Ono’s hearse.

]]> By: Mujokan http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335528 Mujokan Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335528  He was using it before they were together.  He was using it before they were together.

]]> By: Palomino http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335524 Palomino Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335524 Maybe the problem is  focusing in too much, maybe it's part of a larger image or idea. Here's a full view.  The full figure could be considered an estoile, or star with wavy arms, I prefer to think of the entire image as a compass rose with an undefined center, especially since this is a moving craft, a funny twist on a Land Yacht ala Yellow Submarine. A logogram? Some of the old Apple Label images are not all that different, an apple cut in half with the stem intersecting, all within a circle. Abstract, yes, but not far-fetched. Personally, I see a lowercase d and p within a circle. Maybe the problem is  focusing in too much, maybe it’s part of a larger image or idea. Here’s a full view. 

The full figure could be considered an estoile, or star with wavy arms, I prefer to think of the entire image as a compass rose with an undefined center, especially since this is a moving craft, a funny twist on a Land Yacht ala Yellow Submarine.

A logogram?

Some of the old Apple Label images are not all that different, an apple cut in half with the stem intersecting, all within a circle. Abstract, yes, but not far-fetched.

Personally, I see a lowercase d and p within a circle.

]]> By: joreyadan swayeri http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335467 joreyadan swayeri Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:05:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335467 clearly infinity aspirin clearly infinity aspirin

]]> By: accidentatstercolinem http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335411 accidentatstercolinem Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335411 You can't find a picture of "ritual object of uncertain purpose"?  Well, here it is.  http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb193/Peromyscus/anubis.jpg I have the catalogue. On the one hand I'm old, on the other, I have this sort of book on the shelf.  You can’t find a picture of “ritual object of uncertain purpose”?  Well, here it is. 
http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb193/Peromyscus/anubis.jpg

I have the catalogue. On the one hand I’m old, on the other, I have this sort of book on the shelf. 

]]> By: Richard Schneider http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335406 Richard Schneider Thu, 02 Feb 2012 03:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335406 Certainly not Western astrology, but all kinds of meta-spacey unity/duality themes could hide in it. Certainly not Western astrology, but all kinds of meta-spacey unity/duality themes could hide in it.

]]> By: D. Keith Higgs http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335298 D. Keith Higgs Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:34:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335298 In much the same way the familiar peace symbol is composed of the semaphore signal positions for "ND" for "Nuclear Disarmament" this is a stylized construction of "YOKO" In much the same way the familiar peace symbol is composed of the semaphore signal positions for “ND” for “Nuclear Disarmament” this is a stylized construction of “YOKO”

]]> By: Mujokan http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335268 Mujokan Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335268 The most I could find is that it's used on his stationery when he was living at the Kenwood House in Surrey. This is where he had the gypsy caravan and the Rolls. The correct orientation is with the line horizontal, with a circle above and below, enclosed in another circle. http://kenwoodlennon.blogspot.com/2009/11/kenwood-cynthia-lennon-fanclub.html http://kenwoodlennon.blogspot.com/2010/01/kenwood-symbols.html Someone in the comments says it is a "spirit wheel", but this is wrong because a spirit wheel should be a single circle with spokes. I think the speculation that it has something to do with transcendental meditation is more likely, but I can't find any such symbols with that connection. The most I could find is that it’s used on his stationery when he was living at the Kenwood House in Surrey. This is where he had the gypsy caravan and the Rolls. The correct orientation is with the line horizontal, with a circle above and below, enclosed in another circle.

http://kenwoodlennon.blogspot.com/2009/11/kenwood-cynthia-lennon-fanclub.html
http://kenwoodlennon.blogspot.com/2010/01/kenwood-symbols.html

Someone in the comments says it is a “spirit wheel”, but this is wrong because a spirit wheel should be a single circle with spokes. I think the speculation that it has something to do with transcendental meditation is more likely, but I can’t find any such symbols with that connection.

]]> By: Culturedropout http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335128 Culturedropout Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335128 He was secretly a superhero?  http://www.themovieblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/owl.jpg He was secretly a superhero? 

http://www.themovieblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/owl.jpg

]]> By: voiceinthedistance http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335106 voiceinthedistance Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335106 It's sanskrit for Paul Is Dead. It’s sanskrit for Paul Is Dead.

]]> By: Nicholas Cueva http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335099 Nicholas Cueva Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335099 Easy. It's the six fingered hand of Eris with the fingers touching. Easy. It’s the six fingered hand of Eris with the fingers touching.

]]> By: Luke Apker http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335083 Luke Apker Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335083 Perhaps a take on the peace symbol. The symbol's "Y" branches are presented as circles, denoting a desire for peace in perpetuity, as well as peace from both sides. Perhaps a take on the peace symbol. The symbol’s “Y” branches are presented as circles, denoting a desire for peace in perpetuity, as well as peace from both sides.

]]> By: lafave http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335081 lafave Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335081 "It was only a bloody song" “It was only a bloody song”

]]> By: jb http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335072 jb Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335072 I agree. His round glasses were very iconic for his time. I agree. His round glasses were very iconic for his time.

]]> By: Ian Langehough http://boingboing.net/2012/02/01/my-favorite-museum-exhibit-13.html#comment-1335066 Ian Langehough Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=141894#comment-1335066 My dad owns the American license plates to this car! My dad owns the American license plates to this car!

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