hand painted mixed media shadow box cabinet with a hinged door hole in the door reveals portrait of poet

mixed media shadow box cabinet holding an impaled red heart with nails and a portrait of a pale poet hand painted poem on the door

a close-up of mixed media assemblage impaled red heart in front of painted portrait of poet

Story Boxes ~ The Bleeding Bird

Mixed Media Assemblage Shadow Box Cabinet

14″H x 9″W x 4″D

In making this piece I was inspired to revisit one of my favorite tales, The Nightingale and the Rose, by Oscar Wilde.

First published in 1888 in his collection, The Happy Prince and Other Tales, The Nightingale and the Rose is a brutally tragic tale of self-sacrifice.

The nightingale so loved the poet in the story that she impaled herself on a white rose to produce a red rose that he wanted. No matter how many times I’ve read the story, it continues to break my heart anew.

This carved story box contains the ruptured heart of the Bleeding Bird and a painting of the beloved poet. Prose inspired by the tale is hand painted on the inside of the cabinet door.

Sculpted, carved and handpainted, this little story box is suitable for hanging.

See the gallery page of the companion story box, inspired by The Handless Maiden.

I’ve been so inspired by the tale of The Bleeding Bird in The Nightingale and the Rose, that I have made two additional pieces exploring her story. See the gallery pages of The Nightingale and the Rose artdoll and The Bleeding Bird Music Box.