- Title: LATVIA: CRAFTSMAN PRODUCES BIZARRE PHALLIC FURNITURE.
- Date: 31st August 2004
- Summary: (CEEF) DZUKSTE, LATVIA (RECENT) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF MODRIS BARGAIS WORKSHOP VARIOUS OF MODRIS BARGAIS WORKING WITH WOOD CLOSE OF WOODWORKING SOUNDBITE (Latvian) MODRIS BARGAIS, CARPENTER SAYING: "When I come here to work I stay all day except for the bathroom and coffee. Five minutes at the most. There's no time for smoking" VARIOUS OF PHALLIC TABLE MORE PHALLIC ITEMS DOOR HANDLE SOUNDBITE (Latvian) MODRIS BARGAIS SAYING: " If I must explain why - it's mostly because I want to have furniture like no one has had before. That's behind all this. One can call me names, but I don't care" CLOTHES STAND AND WALKING STICK SOUNDBITE (Latvian) MODRIS BARGAIS SAYING: "I'm telling you many women are excited, youngsters are, too. When I was at an exhibition, there was, only one negative reaction. Others were surprised, and nobody has seen anything like it before" MORE OF PHALLIC FURNITURE SOUNDBITE (Latvian) LITA AVOTINA, STUDENT SAYING: "It's cool. I have some spoons and knifes in my house. I don't think that you need to buy lots of furniture, and build your house in this way, but some of these things can make your life enjoyable" SOUNDBITE (Latvian) OLGERTS BENDZIKS, VISITOR SAYING: "It's art-work. I don't think it's something bad. I like it, but unfortunately it too expensive for me. Otherwise, I would like to get some of this furniture" VARIOUS OF PHALLIC FURNITURE AND TOOLS
- Embargoed: 15th September 2004 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: DZUKSTE, LATVIA
- Country: Latvia
- Topics: Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
- Reuters ID: LVAA2JZ98JJIOK0DTB7UI6ICJWK6
- Story Text: Latvian man produces bizarre phallic inspired furniture.
Latvian carpenter Modris Bargais has always loved woodworking. For years he has produced furniture at his workshop in Dzekste in south-eastern Latvia. But in the past ten years his work has taken a unique turn.
After hearing the tale of an erotic bedroom owned by Russian empress Catherine the Second, Bargais decided to create a new line of work with an erotic theme.
Although he creates work based on both sexes, it's the male phallus which has produced the best results for his design.
On any day of the week Bargais can be found busy in his workshop, hand carving his interpretations of the phallus for use in furniture.
"When I come here to work I stay all day except for the bathroom and coffee. Five minutes at the most. There's no time for smoking" he says as he carves a phallic shaped door handle.
Bargais says when he first started his work a few eyebrows were raised. His wife apparently tried to burn his first few tables.
But over the years the popularity of his furniture has gradually grown - he was recently asked to outfit a Riga pub in an entirely phallic theme.
"I'm telling you many women are excited, youngsters are, too. When I was at an exhibition, there was, only one negative reaction. Others were surprised, and nobody has seen anything like it before" he explains.
Why does he continues to produce his bizarre work? "It's mostly because I want to have furniture like no one has had before. That's behind all this. One can call me names, but I don't care"
Today his repertoire has expanded from tables to include everything from phallic inspired door handles to serving spoons.
So far Bargais' neighbours have also taken his work in stride. Several have bought small pieces of work, although the price puts some off.
"It's cool. I have some spoons and knifes in my house.
I don't think that you need to buy lots of furniture, or to build your house this way, but some of these things can make your life enjoyable", says local student Lita Avotina.
Bargais' most elaborate table costs 1,000 Euro. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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