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"Now I must explain to you that the Princess Langwidere had thirty heads - as many as there are days in a month. But of course she could only wear one of them at a time, because she had but one neck... Each head was in a separate cupboard lined with velvet... One key unlocked all the velvet cupboards containing these treasures - a curious key carved from a single blood-red ruby - and this was fastened to a strong but slender chain which the Princess wore around her left wrist."

Excerpt taken from Ozma of Oz, (c) L. Frank Baum

I loved reading the Oz books as I was growing up. Each book contained a fantastic set of characters (some new, some old), who would often travel through strange and whimsical areas of Oz - some of which were hospitable, while others were not.

Princess Langwidere only makes an appearance in one Oz book - Ozma of Oz - but her concept always fascinated me. Instead of changing her dress (the book notes that she always wore the same white gown because it suited all her heads), she could change what she looked like by swapping out her head. This isn't as macabre as it sounds - in Oz, it is nearly impossible to die, so in all likelihood, the bodies that belonged to the heads originally have found replacements (of wood, baked goods, or tin - just about anything will work in Oz), and are probably doing just fine for themselves.

Langwidere is more vain than evil, and her chief contribution to the story is in detaining Dorothy because she thinks that Dorothy's head will make a fine addition to her collection. When Dorothy naturally refuses, she is locked in a tower. I won't say more than that, just in case someone is inclined to go read the story.

The composition of the piece is a nod to Alphonse Mucha, as well as John R. Neill (the illustrator of many Oz books, who also had an Art Nouveau bent). Langwidere is wearing the white gown and ruby key, and the head in her hand is NOT the infamous No. 17 (which is known for its bad temper), but is still a bit of a snob. Behind her is the lineup of cabinets, all safely closed and locked.

Description
"Now I must explain to you that the Princess Langwidere had thirty heads - as many as there are days in a month. But of course she could only wear one of them at a time, because she had but one neck... Each head was in a separate cupboard lined with velvet... One key unlocked all the velvet cupboards containing these treasures - a curious key carved from a single blood-red ruby - and this was fastened to a strong but slender chain which the Princess wore around her left wrist."

Excerpt taken from Ozma of Oz, (c) L. Frank Baum

I loved reading the Oz books as I was growing up. Each book contained a fantastic set of characters (some new, some old), who would often travel through strange and whimsical areas of Oz - some of which were hospitable, while others were not.

Princess Langwidere only makes an appearance in one Oz book - Ozma of Oz - but her concept always fascinated me. Instead of changing her dress (the book notes that she always wore the same white gown because it suited all her heads), she could change what she looked like by swapping out her head. This isn't as macabre as it sounds - in Oz, it is nearly impossible to die, so in all likelihood, the bodies that belonged to the heads originally have found replacements (of wood, baked goods, or tin - just about anything will work in Oz), and are probably doing just fine for themselves.

Langwidere is more vain than evil, and her chief contribution to the story is in detaining Dorothy because she thinks that Dorothy's head will make a fine addition to her collection. When Dorothy naturally refuses, she is locked in a tower. I won't say more than that, just in case someone is inclined to go read the story.

The composition of the piece is a nod to Alphonse Mucha, as well as John R. Neill (the illustrator of many Oz books, who also had an Art Nouveau bent). Langwidere is wearing the white gown and ruby key, and the head in her hand is NOT the infamous No. 17 (which is known for its bad temper), but is still a bit of a snob. Behind her is the lineup of cabinets, all safely closed and locked.