Completed January 9, 2016, after two years’ delay. This fine gentleman started out as a growling dog (that being the sound originally suggested by the pull-string advertising souvenir – a rubber house that shook, theoretically promoting the services of an earthquake-repairs contractor) acquired from a local “creative reuse” center. He sat around as a rough core because his personality failed to jell.

Of course it didn’t. He’s not a dog at all, and he’s purring, not growling: a long soft rumble with a realistic vibration along with it. (The core picture – the one at the end, with no ears – includes notes on the armature update required to make this happen.)

Now he has a permanent home in the studio, but a few other vibrating houses survive. You can write to the Salamander if you’d like to discuss the creation of a cuddly desk-friend for yourself.