Title and date from inside of box: "Potch-Potch | June 10, 1940 | August 31, 1955"
Set of an oval oil portrait miniature of a poodle set in a leather case, with fifteen acrylic or mica-like overlays with various costume details painted in opaque colors. The overlays are held up in front of the poodle to dress it up in various historic costumes, eleven male and four female. Four of them are dated 1390, 1409, 1430, and 1470, and two are named: de Louis XIII and Henri III.
This is a modern take on an amusement game that came into fashion in Europe after about 1650. That original miniature was painted on copper, and the overlays were painted on mica, or talc.
The title and case raise speculation about whether this toy was created by Julia Wightman herself.
Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.
Plan your visit. 225 Madison Avenue at 36th Street, New York, NY 10016.
Potch-potch [game]
Accession number:
PML 88522
Published:
s.l. : s.n., June 10, 1940 - August 31, 1955.
Description:
1 game (16 miniature paintings) : col. ill. ; 6.2 x 5 cm
Credit:
Gift of Julia P. Wightman, 1991.
Notes:
Binding:
Green morocco case, shaped like a book with gilded floral onlays in brown, pink, and green leather. It opens to reveal two recessed oval compartments: a shallow version at left, containing the miniature of the poodle; at right, a deeper area to house the sheets, at bottom the gold stamped title and dates on green morocco. 9.2 x 6 cm (case) Housed in 1/4 brown morocco case with decorated paper sides and lined in green velvet. Spine title and 1947. Signed below spine: J[ulia] PW[ightman] 1947, stamped in gold. 15.5 x 13 cm (case)
Provenance:
From the library of Julia P. Wightman.
Classification:
Catalog Link:
Department: