Image of Gallery in South Kensington
Not currently on display at the V&A
On short term loan out for exhibition

Figure

1900-1925 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

A set of twenty-two hand-cut and hand-painted articulated wooden figures representing characters from the novels Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass.

1. Alice, painted in a blue dress, white apron and striped stockings.
2 and 3. Tweedledum and Tweedledee, wearing saucepans on theirs heads, breastplates and carrying either a sword or an umbrella
4. The Mock Turtle, crying, painted yellow with a brown shell.
5. The Frog Footman, dressed in scarlet and gold with a white wig.
6. The White Rabbit, dressed in a ruff, blue tabard with red hearts on it, carrying a silver bugle and a notice.
7. The Fish Footman, dressed in green and gold with a red hat and carrying a letter 'To the Duchess from the Queen'
8. The Carpenter, dressed in red and green, with a white cap and carrying a white handkerchief.
9. The White Queen, dressed in white and gold and carrying a sceptre.
10. The March Hare, dressed in a red jacket and green and red striped trousers, with long ears.
11. The Dormouse, painted brown and white.
12 to 19. Eight Oysters, with yellow bases and black feet.
20. The Slayer of the Jabberwocky, with no articulated limbs, dressed in a green tunic, red trousers, yellow hair and carrying a large silver sword.
21. The Red King, dressed in a red cloak, yellow breeches, long white wig and red crown.
22. The Dodo, painted green with blue and yellow flashes, black skull patch and yellow face. He has a red beak, yellow feet, and carries a walking stick.

There are also seventeen wooden stands for the figures.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 22 parts.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
Materials and techniques
Hand-cut and hand-painted wood, articulated with steel pins.
Brief description
Set of 22 painted wooden figures based on characters from Alice in Wonderland, England, Talfourd Toys, 1900-1925
Physical description
A set of twenty-two hand-cut and hand-painted articulated wooden figures representing characters from the novels Alice in Wonderland and Alice Through the Looking Glass.

1. Alice, painted in a blue dress, white apron and striped stockings.
2 and 3. Tweedledum and Tweedledee, wearing saucepans on theirs heads, breastplates and carrying either a sword or an umbrella
4. The Mock Turtle, crying, painted yellow with a brown shell.
5. The Frog Footman, dressed in scarlet and gold with a white wig.
6. The White Rabbit, dressed in a ruff, blue tabard with red hearts on it, carrying a silver bugle and a notice.
7. The Fish Footman, dressed in green and gold with a red hat and carrying a letter 'To the Duchess from the Queen'
8. The Carpenter, dressed in red and green, with a white cap and carrying a white handkerchief.
9. The White Queen, dressed in white and gold and carrying a sceptre.
10. The March Hare, dressed in a red jacket and green and red striped trousers, with long ears.
11. The Dormouse, painted brown and white.
12 to 19. Eight Oysters, with yellow bases and black feet.
20. The Slayer of the Jabberwocky, with no articulated limbs, dressed in a green tunic, red trousers, yellow hair and carrying a large silver sword.
21. The Red King, dressed in a red cloak, yellow breeches, long white wig and red crown.
22. The Dodo, painted green with blue and yellow flashes, black skull patch and yellow face. He has a red beak, yellow feet, and carries a walking stick.

There are also seventeen wooden stands for the figures.
Dimensions
  • Alice height: 70mm
  • Alice width: 33mm
  • Tweedledum height: 95mm
  • Tweedledum width: 80mm
  • Tweedledee height: 95mm
  • Tweedledee width: 90mm
  • Mock turtle height: 105mm
  • Mock turtle width: 70mm
  • Frog footman height: 100mm
  • Frog footman width: 40mm
  • White rabbit height: 110mm
  • White rabbit width: 48mm
  • Fish footman height: 120mm
  • Fish footman width: 70mm
  • Carpenter height: 95mm
  • Carpenter width: 35mm
  • White queen height: 100mm
  • White queen width: 45mm
  • March hare height: 125mm
  • March hare width: 30mm
  • Dormouse height: 65mm
  • Dormouse width: 30mm
  • Oysters height: 25mm (average)
  • Oysters width: 30mm (average)
  • Jabberwocky slayer height: 45mm
  • Jabberwocky slayer width: 35mm
  • Red king height: 90mm
  • Red king width: 53mm
  • Dodo height: 105mm
  • Dodo width: 40mm
Object history
Purchased in 1988 [88/468]
Subjects depicted
Literary references
  • Alice in Wonderland
  • Alice Through the Looking Glass
Collection
Accession number
MISC.245:1 to 22-1988

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Record createdJuly 1, 2009
Record URL
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