Collectible Portraits Part 2
Jan. 11th, 2024 10:36 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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acciobrickAnd now we have an update on the portraits. The expected Salazar Slytherin portrait has made an appearance, and we have two new portraits as well.
Row One: Rowena Ravenclaw, possibly Amrose Swott (or maybe a younger Dumbledore; see below), Sir Cadogan, NEW an as yet unknown ginger dozing off over her book (bears some resemblance to yours truly, now that I look), Godric Gryffindor,
Row Two: possibly Maud Montague (see below), Edessa Sakndenberg (note, see below), Helga Hufflepuff,
Row Three: Damara Dodderidge, Jocunda Sykes, NEW Elizabeth Burke,
Bottom row: possibly Temeritus Shanks (see below), Basil Fronsac, Salazar Slytherin
So, my best guesses once again...
In the top row, the redhead with the beard might be Amrose Swott. Contrary to what the Weasleys and Susan Bones might lead one to believe, there weren't all that many gingers amongst the portraits. I couldn't find the significance to the map either, nor any mention of Prewett or Weasley portraits, and the only Bones portrait mentioned is of a witch, which leaves us with Swott or perhaps a younger Dumbledore. It's worth considering that the portrait appears to be asleep, as we often hear Albus' is, and the style of beard more closely resembles his than Swott's. The de-aging might be their way of avoiding placing an emphasis on the character's death. Or maybe the unknown / uncertain portraits are of lego designers. They've done that in the past, especially in the Transfiguration Moment set.
For the first portrait in the second row, the only portrait that came close to the Snow White look (and who knows, maybe it is Snow White, although Sleeping Beauty would have made more sense given the Draught of Living Death) is Maud Montague. The second portrait is Edessa Sakndenberg, and there are some runes in her portrait. If we assume they're the older Futhark runes, it spells out "lego", so that seems a good bet.
As for the fourth row, the only portrait I could find with an owl, and a white owl at that, is Temeritus Shanks. Now he's pretty much a Voldemort shade of white and not black in that portrait, but then I'd argue Edessa Sakndenberg wasn't originally a POC either, so that probably doesn't rule him out either.
So those are just guesses, and I'm definitely open to suggestions as to who some of those portraits might be instead. Unlike the portraits in the Grand Staircase set, I imagine we can expect to see a list of names for the tiles soon. It will be difficult to collect and swap the tiles if we can't name them.
And lastly a reminder as to the distribution of the portraits in the 2024 lego Harry Potter winter wave sets:
Hagrid's Hut: 2x
Hogwarts Castle Boathouse: 1x
Hogwarts Castle Owlery: 1x
That's all for now. I'll keep you posted.
Row One: Rowena Ravenclaw, possibly Amrose Swott (or maybe a younger Dumbledore; see below), Sir Cadogan, NEW an as yet unknown ginger dozing off over her book (bears some resemblance to yours truly, now that I look), Godric Gryffindor,
Row Two: possibly Maud Montague (see below), Edessa Sakndenberg (note, see below), Helga Hufflepuff,
Row Three: Damara Dodderidge, Jocunda Sykes, NEW Elizabeth Burke,
Bottom row: possibly Temeritus Shanks (see below), Basil Fronsac, Salazar Slytherin
So, my best guesses once again...
In the top row, the redhead with the beard might be Amrose Swott. Contrary to what the Weasleys and Susan Bones might lead one to believe, there weren't all that many gingers amongst the portraits. I couldn't find the significance to the map either, nor any mention of Prewett or Weasley portraits, and the only Bones portrait mentioned is of a witch, which leaves us with Swott or perhaps a younger Dumbledore. It's worth considering that the portrait appears to be asleep, as we often hear Albus' is, and the style of beard more closely resembles his than Swott's. The de-aging might be their way of avoiding placing an emphasis on the character's death. Or maybe the unknown / uncertain portraits are of lego designers. They've done that in the past, especially in the Transfiguration Moment set.
For the first portrait in the second row, the only portrait that came close to the Snow White look (and who knows, maybe it is Snow White, although Sleeping Beauty would have made more sense given the Draught of Living Death) is Maud Montague. The second portrait is Edessa Sakndenberg, and there are some runes in her portrait. If we assume they're the older Futhark runes, it spells out "lego", so that seems a good bet.
As for the fourth row, the only portrait I could find with an owl, and a white owl at that, is Temeritus Shanks. Now he's pretty much a Voldemort shade of white and not black in that portrait, but then I'd argue Edessa Sakndenberg wasn't originally a POC either, so that probably doesn't rule him out either.
So those are just guesses, and I'm definitely open to suggestions as to who some of those portraits might be instead. Unlike the portraits in the Grand Staircase set, I imagine we can expect to see a list of names for the tiles soon. It will be difficult to collect and swap the tiles if we can't name them.
And lastly a reminder as to the distribution of the portraits in the 2024 lego Harry Potter winter wave sets:
Hagrid's Hut: 2x
Hogwarts Castle Boathouse: 1x
Hogwarts Castle Owlery: 1x
That's all for now. I'll keep you posted.
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-13 03:54 pm (UTC)I could see them coming out with different series of the portraits, in different shapes and maybe even sizes, but that for purposes of sorting them randomly into the sets, it is helpful if all instances of the random element added is the same size and weight. I believe that's kind of what's at the root of doubling up the small plates & such in sets, but not the bricks or larger bits. As part of quality control, you check your final weight and have a certain margin of error to account for.
I was wondering if the frame was in part to signal the age of the portrait, because those things change over time, as tastes do, but you rarely go back and update the frames. Or they reflect the source material, which in turn may reflect that. Anyway I know at least a couple look like their inspiration (see Elizabeth Burke).
Iirc, Merlin in the stickers from the Grand Staircase set (and I think I never posted that which is irksome, as I've sat down and worked my way through all the portraits I don't know how many times now... lol zero chance of laying my hands on any of the instances of those notes deliberately) had the runes in his portrait, too... I'll have to go look to be sure, but anyroad, they may wish to maintain some consistency between the design, or just save on the budget by not reinventing the wheel. We shall see.
So! New speculation! 😃 The fourth picture in the first row (unknown napping / reading ginger) and the first picture in the second row (maybe Maud) both remind me of individuals from fairytales. 1st row could be, literally, Sleeping Beauty (no spindle, though, and let's pretend I didn't say she looks anything like me 😆) and in the second row Snow White. Here're the things:
1) both of them exist in Wizarding World canon as victims of evil witches. (Their stories, such as they are (exceedingly thin), are about the villains.)
2) I believe there's a suggestion (unproven) they could be Muggle, in which case we wouldn't see portraits of them, but!
Sleeping Beauty is thought to have been given the Draught of Living Death (by the hag Leticia Somnolens <- ha!) and revived with a Wiggenweld potion on the lips of the Prince who steals a kiss (because he hadn't been taught to ask first, tsk, for shame!). (Side note, quip included primarily because the source material there is often problematic; a kiss ain't the issue. And of course snark rules.) Potions aren't supposed to work on Muggles, though, or maybe it's just some Potions, but here we have two Potions affecting Beauty. Well.
Snow White similarly is gifted a poisoned apple (and comb) by another hag, Queen Malodora Grymm (again: ha!) Here we have even less information as to what was used or how she was saved from the WW standpoint, but I think we can infer something similar took place.
The Grimm brothers' versions of the fairytales are obviously part of the public domain, so it's possible lego might use them. On the other hand, Disney is a major licensing partner, so maybe not. Heh. Given lego are probably going to be forced to name the portarits, again to facilitate trading etc., it might be less likely that they'd want to poke that particular bear (Disney seem to be having issues coping with the oldest version of Mickey Mouse going into the PD, for example; why antagonise a partner?). Anyway, the idea intrigues me (it might just be Head Canon now (like the Dumbledore / Merlin Chocolate Frog tiles...)), and I look forward to seeing the list on this one. Speculate away!
(no subject)
Date: 2024-01-14 06:29 pm (UTC)Valid thoughts on adding larger portraits, just would love to see some on the 2x2 round or square, or 2x3 tiles typically used for signs etc. I'm surprised they didn't do the Barnabus the Barmy training trolls tapestry in the ROR set. And don't forget Phineas Nigellus Black, he spent time traveling with the trio.
The speculations are all such fun, can't wait for the list release!