Lockdown 24/28 – Precioussss

Day 24 of my diary of a LOTR Fan Museum owner during our 4 week national lockdown - in NZ we’re uniting as a country to beat Covid-19 to break the chain and save lives, but …

The national new job of STAY HOME, be kind seems to be working in NZ to reduce spread of the virus - maybe even eliminate it here. And, there’s signs of flattening in other countries, but still worrying growth, especially fears for Africa.

As the country is contemplating starting to lessen the lockdown, I’m still facing the prospect of not being able to operate The One Room Fan Museum in the near future, so I’m reflecting on its glory days.

One of the particular joys has been the generosity of people who’ve either lent or donated super cool treasures to the Museum. This has been a constant stream since the Museum first opened on 22 September 2017.

I’m the careful custodian of costumes, some lent, some donated. On loan to me are an amazing Moria dwarf costume, made by a talented young man who works at Weta, and an exquisite elven dress worn at the Two Towers premiere, which is made from silk fabrics from the same place as LOTR costume fabric was sourced. I’ve also been donated cherished elven princess dresses from Austria and Japan.

I have been anonymously gifted some orc gauntlets actually worn at Helms Deep filming!!! They have the most amazing smell of leather. What treasures.

Other things I’ve been lent are Orcrist, some resin Tauriel blades and a Galadriel hoarding from the Hobbit premiere parade. And, I have my niece’s precious autographs from the ROTK world premiere parade on the wall.

I’ve been given precious gifts too numerous to count, but some particularly special things are: the phial of Galadriel, complete with light; a copy of Bilbo’s contract; a LOTR-inspired calendar and books; Pippin’s scarf; an elven bow, glorious brooches and buckles for adding to costumes; and action figures sent from the USA.

I am so honoured to care for these things and to let other LOTR fans enjoy them. Thank you so much all of you for these amazing things, and for showing the Museum such support.

One of the many messages from LOTR is the power of things to corrupt, but the treasures of the Museum are held with generosity. In these times when we all have to be so solitary, so isolated, the idea of shared enjoyment of such treasures seems remote. But I have not forgotten! I hope others enduring the current crisis can still hold on to cherished things in a way that refreshes their soul. Best wishes, Kathy xx