News from the Barn

The Case of the Dangerous Flute

If you've been looking for our things on Facebook Marketplace and wondered where they've all gone, here's the story.

In September I listed a pair of charming cherub ornaments. One was playing a flute, and the other was strumming a lyre. Facebook rejected the listing. Its computer had studied the chubby little flute player and decided he was carrying a weapon.

Two little cherub figurines on a stone wall at the barn, one playing a flute and one strumming a lyre, with fields and a wooden gate behind.
The first suspects: one flute, one lyre, no weapons.
Facebook's message about the listing 'Pair of Mid-Century Italian Cherub Musicians, Flute & Lyre': This goes against our Commerce Policies on weapons, ammunition and explosives.
Facebook's verdict on the cherubs.

I laughed, rolled my eyes, and carried on.

A few days later I listed a lovely porcelain figurine of a young gentleman in a frock coat and striped breeches, playing his flute. Within moments, Facebook's robot struck again:

Weapons listing rejected

For good measure, it banned me from Marketplace altogether!

Facebook's notice: You can't access Marketplace. We've restricted your account as a safety measure. Weapons, listing rejected, 21 Sep 2026. Weapons, listing rejected, 25 Sep 2026.
The official charge sheet: two counts of "Weapons".
The porcelain flute player in his frock coat and striped breeches, with his flute and hand covered by 'Censored' and 'Also suspicious' labels, and a banner reading: Image edited for your safety. Facebook says this young man is carrying a WEAPON.
The suspect. Please stand well back.

So, for the record: no flutes were fired, no cherubs were armed, and no one has ever been injured by a porcelain gentleman playing a merry tune.

The porcelain gentleman uncensored: playing a little horn, with his flute tucked under his arm.
Uncensored: the "weapons" revealed.

I've asked Facebook to have an actual human look at the photos. So far, the robots are still in charge.

There's a great new Kirkby Lonsdale Antiques and Vintage group on Facebook that, unfortunately, I can't access because of my ban. Hopefully the group members are keeping it alive!

The cherubs and the flute player are still for sale in Cabinet C47 in The Antiques Emporium, Kendal, and they're as harmless as ever. If you'd like to give one of these notorious characters a good home, pop in and see them, or just get in touch.

LesleyThe Vintage Barn