Father Christmas distributing toys to children thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Father Christmas distributing toys to children

Illustration
ca.1890 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Ernest Nister (1842-1909) began his publishing career in 1885 when he acquired a lithographic workshop in Nürnberg and printed books for London publishers. In 1888 he became a publisher in his own right with offices at 24 St. Bride Street, London. He appointed the writer and editor, Robert Ellice Mack, as director.

Nister specialised in high quality colour printing for children in the last quarter of the 19th century. Movable books with various mechanisms became his speciality after 1890 (when be published his first stand-up book) but he also produced numerous picture books, annuals, poetry, nursery rhymes, calendars and greetings cards. He worked with a core of writers, including Clifton Bingham and Robert Ellice Mack, and illustrators, in particular Eveline Lance, Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleFather Christmas distributing toys to children (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Watercolour on card
Brief description
Watercolour drawing by K. Röger, ca.1890; produced for Ernest Nister.
Physical description
Watercolour drawing on stiff card of Father Christmas distributing toys to a group of children. There is a doll in his pocket. He hands a Punch doll to a small child in a high chair. On the right in the background a girl reads a book. Mounted on card.
Dimensions
  • Mount height: 426mm
  • Mount width: 323mm
Production typeUnique
Marks and inscriptions
  • Bookplate on verso reads: 'From the Library of Anne Renier and F.G. Renier'
  • Inscribed in blue crayon on verso: 'XXXII', '12/12', '11110', 'K. Röger' and '3'
  • Initialled in pencil on verso: '1224 [...]'
Credit line
Donated by Anne Renier and F.G. Renier.
Object history
Drawn by K. Röger ca.1890 for Ernest Nister. Bequeathed to the V&A in 1970 by Anne and Fernand G. Renier as part of the Renier Collection.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Ernest Nister (1842-1909) began his publishing career in 1885 when he acquired a lithographic workshop in Nürnberg and printed books for London publishers. In 1888 he became a publisher in his own right with offices at 24 St. Bride Street, London. He appointed the writer and editor, Robert Ellice Mack, as director.

Nister specialised in high quality colour printing for children in the last quarter of the 19th century. Movable books with various mechanisms became his speciality after 1890 (when be published his first stand-up book) but he also produced numerous picture books, annuals, poetry, nursery rhymes, calendars and greetings cards. He worked with a core of writers, including Clifton Bingham and Robert Ellice Mack, and illustrators, in particular Eveline Lance, Harriett M. Bennett, Edith A. Cubitt and Rosa Petherick.
Other numbers
  • Ren. Drawer 1 - Previous Renier Collection pressmark
  • R(Z)312 - Previous National Art Library accession number
Collection
Library number
RENIER.391

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 19, 2008
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest