In the nineteenth century, French dolls in picture books were frequently subjected to harsh discipline at the hands of their not-so-loving owners. In one extremely vivid illustration, the girl pulls up the doll's petticoats and skirts over its neatly coiffed head and savagely whips its naked wooden bottom while her brother watches.…
This unassuming canvas trunk holds the inspiration for some of the early 20th century's most recognizable children's book illustrations. It belonged to Honor C. Appleton (1879 - 1951), whose delicate watercolors are perhaps best known for their appearances as full color plates in the work of her long-time collaborators. Appleton maintained…
Some children are lucky enough to know an adult with the skills to make them special toys and games. Sometimes those objects survive against the odds are offered to lucky curators. This little set of Schwarzer Peter cards (a Continental variation on Old Maid) is just one such find. It has twenty-seven…
