Lot 156
HARRY WILLIAM WHANSLAW (1883-1965)
THREE ENGLISH MARIONETTES, AND A FOLIO OF ORIGINAL DRAWINGS, EARLY 20TH CENTURY
Auction: 28 February 2018 from 11:00 GMT
Description
painted wood and fabric, comprising a BEARDED MALE in long purple robe, 28cm x 8cm x 5cm; FEMALE in black dress over floral tunic, 27cm x 7cm x 5cm; ARAB with dagger, 36cm x 9cm x 6cm (3); folio of original drawings including an original pen drawing of 'Bonnie Prince Charlie', singed and dated 1914 with pencil inscription on the back: 'Our Island History Book' 1916 (qty)
Footnote
Note: Key to the revival of puppetry in the early 20th century in Britain, W. H. Whanslaw was a puppeteer, maker, collector, prolific author and book illustrator. The articles in the 1923 'Chatterbox Annual', which were re-published under the title 'Everybody's Theatre', were all illustrated by him.
John Blundall owned a substantial number of original drawings, illustrations, paintings and notebooks by 'Whanny', a selection of which is sold here. Blundall reminisced that 'it was always a great joy to be left in his studio, a real cabinet of curiosities, to sort through the vast amounts of oddities that were everywhere. '
Note: Sold as seen, not subject to return