THE LUCKY COUNTRY GALLOPS BACK : SEVEN YEARS OF PLENTY AHEAD ?

 An  artist  is so  pleased  by  the change of  government  in Australia  she has  decided  to   convert   a   large  pile  of   horseshoes  into various  works of   art - symbolising  the   return  of   the   Lucky Country .

                                    

The  horseshoes , numbering about  120, some bought from  a dealer  in  Victoria , have  been stored away in two containers  in  a shed  for  years. The ones  above are  thought to be  aluminium.   The  other  batch, below, are   rusty looking .

As a result of  Anthony Albanese  winning  the election  and  ScoMo destined for the knackery , the artist was spurred into action . She whipped out  two of the  rusty  horseshoes , gave them a rub down with a  wire brush and  sprayed  them  with   paint.    

Her artistic skills have  been used in many mediums .  She admits that  when she  bought  the  horseshoes  she   decorated  a  small number , above,    with seven pieces  of   dichroic glass .  

This was because she had read that  a horseshoe was  commonly held in place by seven nails ; the number seven had   been considered as important since  ancient  times.

In addition, life was divided into seven ages ; the body goes through a radical change every seven years ; a  rainbow  has  seven  colours ; there are seven deadly sins ; seven days in a week and the moon changes from one phase to  another  every  seven  days. 

In ancient Europe, the crescent shape represented the various moon goddesses , a sign of protection , good luck and  fertility, protection from the  Evil Eye.

 

 Hanging  the horseshoe in the upward "U" position  was supposed  to hold  in all the good luck . Others believed hanging it  in the  downward  position resulted  in  the  loss of  good luck .

The artist pointed out  that sailors used to nail a horseshoe to the foremast of  a  vessel  to  ward  of  witches  and wizards .

It was  suggested  that  one of  her horseshoes  placed next to a rain  gauge, as above,   might  protect  houses  from   regular once  in 100  years  floods  ,resulting  in a  massive  demand . They could sell well  at  places like Horseshoe  Bay  on  Magnetic  Island and flooded  areas   such  as  Brisbane and   Lismore  , NSW  . A  replica of  America's  Statue  of  Liberty  made  from  horseshoes  is   being   considered .