Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Bog buddies, just more tourist tat?

Archaeologists are used to the ethical questions involved with bog bodies.....but what about tourist tat?

An industrious company has set up to sell "Bog Buddies", little characters and motifs (men, women, sheep, hearts, shamrocks) carved from bog materials. Not a terrible idea considering the lack of enterprise following the recession, and the fact that tourists will buy anything. They look nice enough when framed, but really, there doesn't seem to be a great deal of skill in the carving, and certainly not enough to justify the €14 price tag for the smallest piece in the cheapest box, or €40 for a small framed heart. 

I also wonder if they really thought through the name "bog buddies" - did they actively seek association with millenia-old corpses?


Check out their website here: http://www.bogbuddies.com/
Took this photo of the bog buddies at Shannon Airport, Co. Clare
It seems very strange to me that these are so expensive, especially when compared to the high standard of craftsmanship that goes into the turf carved pieces, at comparable prices, from the likes of Island Turf Crafts, http://www.islandturfcrafts.com/, as you can see below (pictures taken from their website).
Irish harp carved from turf, Island Turf Crafts


2 comments:

  1. I just ordered some BogBuddies online and they are so cute! I think the airport shop was just overcharging as all airport shops tend to do! They are beautifully made! I love them! I saw them first on your blog! Thanks for the inspiration!

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    1. Yeah I love these guys - the framed Bog High Cross is awesome (: I ordered one last year and everyone loves it!
      http://www.bogbuddies.com/Celtic_Cross/p196975_1617146.aspx

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