Code: 10931
One of our most favourite recent acquisitions!
Also reminiscent of CFA Voysey's use of the Alice characters for his tile designs.
Absolutely charming and superb quality Cotswold School nursery firescreen with 9 textile panels from
Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland/Through the Looking Glass.
Carved monogramme to underside "HES" (in the manner of Stanley Webb Davies) and dated "IX-46".
Shown at the 1946 Red Rose Guild of Craftsmen exhibition at the Whitworh Art Gallery in Manchester;
listed in the catalogue as a "nursery hearth screen" by HE Simpson for the princely sum of £15 and 15 shillings (and sold then).
Harry E Simpson, a cabinetmaker who both worked for himself and also Stanley Davies of Windermere (recorded there).
His address in the Red Rose Guild exhibition catalogue was given as Harpenden in Herts and his house name was “The Borogoves”; which is from Lewis Carroll’s Jabberwocky.
So he clearly was fascinated with all things Lewis Carroll!
The catalogue entry also mentioned “By Kind permission of Messrs Macmillan”, who were Lewis Carroll’s publishers.
Excellent provenance; been in the same family since it was purchased at the 1946 Red Rose Guild exhibition.
Approx 30.25" high, 29" width at base, 8" depth of feet.
Some professional restoration/conservation to middle/centre panel.
