Public Domain Artifact: Difference between revisions

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(→‎Other Others: separated out The Hand of Glory)
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=== Other Others ===
=== The Hand of Glory ===
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* Nowadays we have U.F.Os, Area 51 and [[The Greys]], which seem to qualify as the latest Public Domain Artifacts.
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** Or, as the quote from ''Angels of Light and Darkness'' states, half of what they say was owned by [[Godwin's Law|Hitler]].
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* ''[[Fables]]'' seems to be extremely fond of this trope—which considering it also uses [[Public Domain Character|public domain ''characters'']] as the primary basis for its main cast (even relatively obscure ones like Rose Red), should probably not surprise anyone in the least. Public Domain Artifacts in the series include the magic beans (from which come magic beanstalks, of course), the Vorpal Sword (as described in [[Lewis Carroll]]'s "[[Jabberwocky]]" poem... no, really genuinely ''as described'' in the poem, including an accompanying "snicker-snack!" sound effect...), the Witching Cloak, the magic barleycorns that Tom Thumb's bride was supposed to have grown from, Boy Blue's horn, a [[Genie in a Bottle|magic lamp]], several magic carpets ala Aladdin, and... really ''countless'' such objects, actually. Even Santa's "Naughty and Nice" lists make a brief appearance. Frankly, this reader is surprised they didn't throw in the Holy Grail and Fountain of Youth just for good measure...
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** The fountain of youth is used in the first story; it is what keeps all the fables ageless for hundreds of years, they drink its water during a yearly ceremony.
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* There are some artifacts which are associated with Santa, but occasionally show up without him. Usually his bag (ascribed mystical properties of producing whatever is desired) and his sleigh (or some other fantastic method of transportation).
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* The Go Board that Honinbo Shusaku spilled blood on when he died, which housed Sai's spirit
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* The [[Native American Mythology|sacred buffalo calf pipe (Teton Sioux), seven arrows (Cheyenne), medicine wheels (across the plains), and ghost shirts (across the plains)]]. Also, anything reputed to have been touched by a famous Indian. New Age groups tend to love to claim false artifacts. Arrowheads are popular pieces as well.
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* Lemuria and Mu. Mu is a mistranslation of a Mayan codex. Lemuria was a land bridge by Ernst Häckel to explain similarities in the ecosystems of Madagascar and Indonesia [[Science Marches On|before plate tectonics]].
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* Some public-domain fictional characters' bits of associated items have attained this status, such as Dr. Jekyll's Hyde-transformation elixer or Dorian Gray's youth-sustaining portrait.
* The Hand of Glory is a common item in folklore, a magical relic made from the hand of a hanged man. It can be lit like a candle and provides a light that only the wielder can see. Various other powers have also been ascribed to it in various tales - generally something appropriate for a sneak thief.
* The Hand of Glory is a common item in folklore, a magical relic made from the hand of a hanged man. It can be lit like a candle and provides a light that only the wielder can see. Various other powers have also been ascribed to it in various tales - generally something appropriate for a sneak thief.
** [[The Laundry Series]] has Hand of Glories serving as channels from an extradimensional energy source. Not only do they bestow invisibility, they can be used to fire [[Frickin' Laser Beams]], though this causes the hand to degrade. The Laundry usually gets theirs from Chinese political prisoners.
** [[The Laundry Series]] has Hand of Glories serving as channels from an extradimensional energy source. Not only do they bestow invisibility, they can be used to fire [[Frickin' Laser Beams]], though this causes the hand to degrade. The Laundry usually gets theirs from Chinese political prisoners.
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*** ''[[Greyhawk]]'' has the Hand of Vecna
*** ''[[Greyhawk]]'' has the Hand of Vecna
*** ''[[Forgotten Realms]]'' has Hand of Harrowing (it's mostly used to ward a place against undead).
*** ''[[Forgotten Realms]]'' has Hand of Harrowing (it's mostly used to ward a place against undead).

=== Other Others ===
⚫
* Nowadays we have U.F.Os, Area 51 and [[The Greys]], which seem to qualify as the latest Public Domain Artifacts.
⚫
** Or, as the quote from ''Angels of Light and Darkness'' states, half of what they say was owned by [[Godwin's Law|Hitler]].
⚫
* ''[[Fables]]'' seems to be extremely fond of this trope—which considering it also uses [[Public Domain Character|public domain ''characters'']] as the primary basis for its main cast (even relatively obscure ones like Rose Red), should probably not surprise anyone in the least. Public Domain Artifacts in the series include the magic beans (from which come magic beanstalks, of course), the Vorpal Sword (as described in [[Lewis Carroll]]'s "[[Jabberwocky]]" poem... no, really genuinely ''as described'' in the poem, including an accompanying "snicker-snack!" sound effect...), the Witching Cloak, the magic barleycorns that Tom Thumb's bride was supposed to have grown from, Boy Blue's horn, a [[Genie in a Bottle|magic lamp]], several magic carpets ala Aladdin, and... really ''countless'' such objects, actually. Even Santa's "Naughty and Nice" lists make a brief appearance. Frankly, this reader is surprised they didn't throw in the Holy Grail and Fountain of Youth just for good measure...
⚫
** The fountain of youth is used in the first story; it is what keeps all the fables ageless for hundreds of years, they drink its water during a yearly ceremony.
⚫
* There are some artifacts which are associated with Santa, but occasionally show up without him. Usually his bag (ascribed mystical properties of producing whatever is desired) and his sleigh (or some other fantastic method of transportation).
⚫
* The Go Board that Honinbo Shusaku spilled blood on when he died, which housed Sai's spirit
⚫
* The [[Native American Mythology|sacred buffalo calf pipe (Teton Sioux), seven arrows (Cheyenne), medicine wheels (across the plains), and ghost shirts (across the plains)]]. Also, anything reputed to have been touched by a famous Indian. New Age groups tend to love to claim false artifacts. Arrowheads are popular pieces as well.
⚫
* Lemuria and Mu. Mu is a mistranslation of a Mayan codex. Lemuria was a land bridge by Ernst Häckel to explain similarities in the ecosystems of Madagascar and Indonesia [[Science Marches On|before plate tectonics]].
⚫
* Some public-domain fictional characters' bits of associated items have attained this status, such as Dr. Jekyll's Hyde-transformation elixer or Dorian Gray's youth-sustaining portrait.
* In L. Jagi Lamplighter's ''[[Prospero's Daughter]]'', there are more public domain artifacts per square inch in the Prosperos' mansion than anywhere else. Several are mentioned above. But they were collecting them.
* In L. Jagi Lamplighter's ''[[Prospero's Daughter]]'', there are more public domain artifacts per square inch in the Prosperos' mansion than anywhere else. Several are mentioned above. But they were collecting them.
* The tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. Some [[expy]] versions use artificial lake of mercury or terracota figurines alone.
* The tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huangdi. Some [[expy]] versions use artificial lake of mercury or terracota figurines alone.
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