July 23, 2008


Licensed Dealer in Tea (for Cooper)


Squintina Tabby — Licensed dealer in Tea [detail]. (Pen and grisaille drawing heightened with gouache.) One of the three variations on this drawing known to exist.

[Beatrix] Potter’s aunt and uncle owned a cat called Squintina (Squinty). Dated to about 1895, as a publishing firm adapted the picture that year for a cover of their ‘Comical Customers‘.

Jandek’s reference to a BibliOdyssey post featuring ornamental typography prompted me to succumb to temptation and revisit BibliOdyssey (always a danger), where I found lovely Beatrix Potter rarities.

Including many bunnies.

posted by Sheila Ryan in animals, art, sketch 

comments

4 Responses to “Licensed Dealer in Tea (for Cooper)”

  1. Ruth on July 23rd, 2008 at 3:06 pm

    I do love Beatrix, favorite since childhood. Her American counterpart - Tasha Tudor - though not in quite the same league for me, died recently. I do admire their little animal worlds.

  2. Sheila Ryan on July 23rd, 2008 at 3:38 pm

    What I like about Potter is the splendid mix of anthropomorphism and naturalistic rendition.

    I like Tasha Tudor as well — and had not known of her death. Sigh.

  3. Cooper Renner on July 24th, 2008 at 10:20 am

    Thank you! (I’m out of Oolong. I need a licensed dealer.)

  4. Sheila Ryan on July 24th, 2008 at 10:24 am

    Cooper, do take a look at the ‘Potter rarities’ to which I link in the post. I can’t link directly to the full image of which this is a detail, but you’ll find it. It actually features the sign over Squintina’s shop.

    Out of Oolong is bad. I too am out of Oolong — and out of sorts.

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