A 7.19m high matchstick model of the Eiffel Tower has officially been declared the world's tallest matchstick building, just hours after it was disqualified by Guinness World Records for using the "wrong" sort of matchsticks.
Richard Plaud, who took eight years, 706,900 matchsticks (without sulphur tops), and 23kg of glue to complete his masterpiece, described the week as an "emotional rollercoaster".
A spikeswoman for Guinness World Records admitted they had been a "bit harsh" in initially declaring the attempt invalid.
Why not though? Disqualify? At once, it's dismissing of the time and care it took, but if the artist was going to go this length, could he not use the right matchsticks? A separate conversation I learned the other day, the bridge from Ottawa, Ontario to Hull Quebec has a piece from the Eiffel Tower. In Canada, that holds symbolism ~ which is what the "proper" matchsticks would have represented.
@Glossy @SunshineGirl Okay - I'm corrected, but a non European, whenever the Eiffel tower comes out of step from how France would portray the Eiffel tower, some assumption is given it's in British humour.... It's the long escapade of friendly cultural sparring
