Shoppers See ‘Moses’

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32265, 7 April 1970, Page 16

Shoppers See ‘Moses’

The commanding Bft 4in tall figure of the Old Testament patriarch, Moses, will greet shoppers at The Farmers’ store in Cashel Street for the next three weeks.

Carved out of the same Carrara white marble used for the original by Michelangelo in 1513, the present seven-ton replica, commissioned by an Auckland department store, stands on a specially strengthened portion of the ground floor in the main foyer. The original statute of Moses, which stands in the Church of St Peter-In-Chains in Rome, was planned as part of a group for the tomb of a Pope in Florence. Through the ages a foot of this original statute has been worn down by the kisses of millions of pilgrims. It took five hours to move the replica into the store on

Saturday. Two fork-lift trucks, a mobile crane, and a dozen workmen were used. It is understood that it cost about $lOOO to transport the statute from Timaru, where it was last exhibited to Christchurch.

The presence of the statue in the store was not a sales gimmick, a store employee said yesterday. No security guards will be placed on the statue, which is insured for $3lOO. When its present New Zealand tour is over the statue will be given to the Auckland City Coun-

cil’s art gallery. Yesterday morning the statue attracted many admirers, some of whom visited the store just to see it.

Also to be displayed at the store is an exhibition of about 40 paintings by some wellknown Canterbury artists. All come from the autumn exhibition- of the Canterbury Society of Arts, which made the selection. In the store’s restaurant is a display of 40 pastel studies by Mrs Natalie Everett, of Christchurch. The exhibits in both displays are for sale.