Random set of the day: Safran's Amazing Bazaar
Posted by Huwbot,
Today's random set is 5857 Safran's Amazing Bazaar, released during 2003. It's one of 8 Belville sets produced that year. It contains 93 pieces and 1 minifig, and its retail price was US$20/£17.99.
It's owned by 226 Brickset members. If you want to add it to your collection you should find it for sale at BrickLink, where new ones sell for around $60.00, or eBay.
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42 comments on this article
Maybe Huwbot ran out of Clikits sets and has settled into early 00s Belville?
Anyway, this set has lots of pretty and interesting pieces in lovely colours. I really like the transparent treasure chests, I thought they were nifty.
Looks a bit exposed to the harsh desert sun! So I wouldn't call it amazing.
the Belville sets look so weird, it doesn't even remind me of LEGO we have nowadays.
Another transparent pink chest! Though this one is much smaller...
The bot developed a new obsession?
Some might say this set is rather Bazaar...
...
...
@Zordboy said:
"..., this set has lots of pretty and interesting pieces in lovely colours. I really like the transparent treasure chests, I thought they were nifty."
That's exactly what I had in mind.
I always wanted this set for pieces. But when I was a kid only toy shop we had had just ONE and they sold it when I finally got all money :<
I like the color scheme of this subtheme. Very 'setting evening sun' in mood. Some great parts in there too. Chrome gold dishes! Multiple!
This set contains quite a few colours I had never heard of before. Even more faszinating that some of the pieces in those colours are ancient moulds while some are ones still used today.
Interesting.
I'd much rather have an Arabic theme than East Asian of which we currently have 2 simultaneously for some reason.
@Arnoldos said:
"I'd much rather have an Arabic theme than East Asian of which we currently have 2 simultaneously for some reason."
Reason being: they sell.
I’m amazed that someone greenlit this to be produced as a set.
Arabian niiii-iiiights!
Like Arabian days,
More often than not,
More hotter than hot,
In a lot of good ways!
So much to say:
1. I love the name of the doll. Safran (as opposed to Saffron, the Persian spice) is the Hebrew word for my profession, Librarian.
2. I had no idea that that half onion dome came in any color but white.
3. I need that Persian rug element that makes up the canopy.
4. I second Arnoldous’ desire for a Middle Eastern theme. Like an Arabian Nights kind of vibe.
I'm not quite ok with the stereoptypical depictions in this set (see exoticization) but this would have most certainly had me fawning over in no time as a kid: lovely colors (purple, pink, orange, chrome silver and gold, transparent pieces), textile, geometric patterns, animals, lots of accessories, and the theme seemingly goes beyond of a global West-centered view.
@whiteghost said:
"I'm not quite ok with the stereoptypical depictions in this set (see exoticization)"
Sure? It's a totally minimal level of stereotpical depiction; in fact I couldn't say which exact culture was "stolen" from.
@Brickalili said:
"Arabian niiii-iiiights!
Like Arabian days,
More often than not,
More hotter than hot,
In a lot of good ways!"
And this is none of them.
@jkb said:
" @whiteghost said:
"I'm not quite ok with the stereoptypical depictions in this set (see exoticization)"
Sure? It's a totally minimal level of stereotpical depiction; in fact I couldn't say which exact culture was "stolen" from.
"
The circumstance that it's not specific does not necessarily mean it is not exocitization. (See the term Mayincatec or the Western theme for more.)
lol, the monkey still has yellow hands and feet even though this is technically a fleshie set.
The onion-shaped cupola and carpet help to make the set look less like an assortment of accessories.
Interesting the perfume bottles only ever appeared again in 3849, while croissants, banana's and drumsticks live on.
Lovely colour scheme and amazing parts. That canopy!
Since my dark age was 2000-2007ish, I'm always shocking to me how old some of the food elements are, like the croissant and the apple.
@whiteghost said:
"Mayincatec..."
I never would have thought I'd see that term outside of TvTropes.
@Arnoldos said:
"I'd much rather have an Arabic theme than East Asian of which we currently have 2 simultaneously for some reason."
For real though. Ninjago is just overrated, and I don't even know anyone outside of China who buys Monkie Kid.
@Brickalili said:
"Arabian niiii-iiiights!
Like Arabian days,
More often than not,
More hotter than hot,
In a lot of good ways!"
Is it blasphemous that I like the Will Smith version of that song better?
Just saying though, if LEGO did some kind of Chinese zodiac warriors theme, I'd be interested.
@MCLegoboy said:
"lol, the monkey still has yellow hands and feet even though this is technically a fleshie set."
Banana stains.
@Maxbricks14 said:
"Looks a bit exposed to the harsh desert sun! So I wouldn't call it amazing."
Safran herself appears to be barefoot on the red-hot sand. And next to a completely open grill.
Is there a bed?
@AverageChimaEnjoyer said:
"Is it blasphemous that I like the Will Smith version of that song better?
"
No, its the only song from the remake that's legitimately better than the original
@JavaBrix said:
"
Since my dark age was 2000-2007ish, I'm always shocking to me how old some of the food elements are, like the croissant and the apple."
More information here (and you will be even more surprised how old some of the food elements are) - https://brickset.com/article/57363/scala-s-legacy
One of the odd sets I bought back then just for the oversized food bits for my minifigs.
So THAT'S where that violet flowerpot came from! I've had that pot in my collection for twenty years and never knew where it came from (I always thought it was Duplo) - I must've pinched it from one of my sister's Lego sets back in the day.
Got this one for my daughter who was preschool age and otherwise looking at Barbie. She loved it. This one in particular caught her eye.
How bazaar, how bazaar!
Oooh baby!
@BaconKing said:
"Is there a bed? "
A bed of studs, now with pillow!
The GOOD, old monkey! <3
@ambr said:
"The onion-shaped cupola and carpet help to make the set look less like an assortment of accessories.
Interesting the perfume bottles only ever appeared again in 3849, while croissants, banana's and drumsticks live on."
I got the perfume bottles in pearl gold in 5378 ... I had no idea they appeared in other colours!
Woah! For a second I thought that said Satan's amazing bazaar. That would be a very different set.
Now I have to wonder about the onion dome piece. Was it designed for Orient Expedition and then reused in Belville? Or was it designed first for Belville?
Since both themes used it in the same year, it's not clear which one invented that element. I'd have always assumed OE, but... it was only in one of their sets (albeit the second-largest set of the line), and three Belville sets, which may put in a stronger argument for it being a Belville creation that OE just benefited from.
Also agreeing with the comments about loving the sunset colour scheme in this set; it's nice. I feel like even the more standard Lego elements were still pretty rare in these colours back in 2003; though orange at least seems fairly common these days.
This set has a great selection of parts. I bought the transparent pink chest ages ago from BrickLink because I thought it was very unique and eye-catching.
Given the low ownership numbers but how long Belville ran, I'm going to posit that Belville kids did not grow up to be Bricksetters.
@Brickalili said:
" @AverageChimaEnjoyer said:
"Is it blasphemous that I like the Will Smith version of that song better?
"
No, its the only song from the remake that's legitimately better than the original"
Eh, I kinda like Will's rendition of Friend Like Me, but that's probably just me.