Friday, March 12, 2010

A Mad Tea Party (in my head)

Everywhere seems to be awash with images from Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland.   Indeed, tomorrow my daughter is due to see the film at an 8 year old Film'n'Pancake Parlour combination party which is certainly a popular theme this year.   

I, alas, will be having my hair done and will wait to see it on DVD.  Which has been pretty much the case with all films for the last 8 years.

But am I complaining?  No, not a jittery jot.   Alice has been such a wonderful inspiration for artists and illustrators for more than a century.  And it is not hard to see why - a pretty girl and lots of wonderful and crazy animals and characters to portray. 

And everyone brings their own imagination to bear.





(Marjorie Torrey, 1946) 


(AE Jackson, 1914)





(Mabel Lucie Atwell 1910)



(Angel Dominguez, 1996) 


(Gwynned Hudson, 1922)





(Maria Kirk, 1904)




(Nicole Claveloux, 1940)



(Peter Newell, 1901)




(Arthur Rackham, 1907)





(Sir John Tenniel 1865)

I can tell you that this picture used to scare the living daylights out of me when I was younger. Much scarier than even Stephen Fry. 


So, this weekend, I will be tea-partying with the Mad Hatter in this hat:





(from Harvash.com)


And drinking my tea from one of these, because I think a tea party calls for flowery porcelain:




Taitu - tea for one




Gien


Taitu - L'Erba del Vicino

Bernadaud - Frivole


Gien 
(all porcelain from tableideas.com) 

And the Mad Hatter can use this teapot, if he dares:


15 comments:

My Passport to Style said...

Hi there, adore these beautiful illustrations, thank-you so much for sharing! They have truly brightened my day!Look forward to my next visit! Sharon xxx

Julie@beingRUBY said...

Dear Jane
What a great collection of images.. Love the first soft image by Marjorie Torrey [great colours] and also the quirky smoker in the Arthur Rackman!! I won't ask what he's smoking.. haha

Well they just had a segment on BHG tonight where they made a Mad Hatter Tea Party garden.. so yep.. it seems to be everywhere!! Hope your daughter enjoys the movie.. I'm like you and tend to wait for DVD's. Have a great weekend.. xx Julie

Jacqueline @ HOME said...

Dear Jane,
I just love ALL of the different illustrations that have been done over the years. They are all brilliant in their own way. I have always been a devotee of Arthur Rackman and Sir John Tenniel really scared me too. His drawing of the Queen and the Cheshire cat was really scary.
.... and, I love the tophat. I want one !!!!
Have a wonderful weekend, Jane. XXXX

Natasha in Oz said...

I love all of these images; I had no idea there were so many representations.

Hope you have a great time at the hair stylists!

Best wishes,
Natasha.

Amanda (Small Acorns) said...

Mabel Lucie Atwell's is my favourite. My girls are desperate to see the latest version too, and I must admit I'm pretty keen myself.

Mise said...

What a lovely array of Alices. Like Amanda, I'd go for Mabel Lucie Atwell's - it's less prim than some of the others.

The Alice that's the default in my head is the drawing of Pauline in Noel Streatfield's Ballet Shoes - she and some other girl vied to play Alice, which had a marked effect on my young self and made me ever so competitive.

And I love all those tea cups and am inclined to leave the computer now for an exquisite tea and a delicate morsel.

Laura said...

I love Alice and Wonderland, always have. Is it odd to go see the movie without a child in tow? I agree, the Cheshire Cat is a bit frightening...

JMW said...

What wonderful images - love the hat! My daughter received a DVD of one the recent renditions of Alice in Wonderland for her birthday. Don't think we'll be seeing Tim Burton's version for many years though. That would scare the daylights out of the kids (and me, for that matter!).

brismod said...

I only read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland a couple of years ago and found it to be thoroughly intriguing. Why is it that the illustrations from the male artists are more sombre and sinister looking?

Clarity said...

So sweet - that story is embedded in me. Those teacups - adorable.

karen said...

Oh how I enjoyed this post...fabulous pictures and tea cups. The turtle tea pot is adorable. Thanks.
Have a wonderful weekend.

Unknown said...

Love them all! Great post.
Have a lovely weekend.
Jx

Emma said...

Why is Stephen Fry scary? He is Winnie-the-Pooh! Emma

Splendid Willow said...

Jane, drinking tea in high style, I see! (:

Thank you for researching and finding all the lovely Alice images.

I hope that you will get to relax and read some good magazines at the hair studio!

ox, Mon

http://www.splendidwillow.com

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

Alice never disappoints. I have collected different Alice's for the illustrations over the years, these are so wonderland! pgt

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