Bill Ritchie's Design work in Georgia
in the the
Tiffany Burke Collection
Wee Woodie Rembrandt Press - The Blue Crown model
Specifications: Made in 2013. The "Blue Crown " model of the Wee Woodie Rembrandt Press first series. Walnut, laminated birch.
About Tiffany Burke: Tiffany was attracted to the Wee Woodie Rembrandt press but the edition was sold out, therefore she opted for the designer version. Ric Miller had provided two of these models before we changed to the simplified, inexpensive version known to most people.
Click here to see the press working
I sent the following letter so Tiffany
would know more about her purchase.
Dear Tiffany Burke,
Thank you for taking on the WeeWoodie Rembrandt Press, the Blue Crown. I’d like to write a few lines about the press and why it’s special, a collectible piece. Lest I forget, I want to preface my remarks with the fact that the Blue Crown is where Rembrandt spent his last years. He died there, in Amsterdam, in 1669.
The press’ design was inspired by the restored etching press in the Rembrandtshus, the famous museum that is in his actual mansion—the one he lost in bankruptcy. You can see the museum’s website and probably a picture of that press I used to design my WeeWoodie Rembrandt Press.
At the beginning my intention was to design a toy which, put together, actually worked to make trading cards. I thought it could be part of a game. I made the first one, and then I found Ric Miller, who had a shop with better tools. He tried to copy mine, and what you have now is the result—the first prototype. He made another one after that, which he still owns.
But it was too time-consuming to ever be manufactured in quantity suitable for my idea of a working toy and game. So we simplified it so Ric could make almost all of it with a CNC router. This version won an International Design Competition called A’Design, in Italy in 2013. My original, the Blue Crown, and Rick’s model are all that remain from the complex ones.
I sent you an email with a link to the video where I tested the press—your press—and I’m taking the liberty of including the plate and prints made for the video. I’m also including a tiny book that outlines my novel, Rembrandt’s Ghost in the New Machine—I wrote during the making of these presses. The novel is still available on amazon.com if you like time-travel historical fiction.
Ric and I are pleased that the Blue Crown has a place in your things. You might notice that it’s held together entirely with pins, but I should mention it has never been taken apart. Frankly, I don’t know if Ric or I could put it together again; but maybe, given enough time, one could.
Sincerely, Bill Ritchie
See the Patron's List for more peoples' collections - click here