The winter's tale by W. Shakspeare [realia] : a cubes-game = Das Wintermärchen von W. Shakspeare als Cubusspiel = Le conte d'hiver par W. Shakspeare en un jeu de cubes.

The winter's tale by W. Shakspeare [realia] : a cubes-game = Das Wintermärchen von W. Shakspeare als Cubusspiel = Le conte d'hiver par W. Shakspeare en un jeu de cubes.

[Nürnberg, Germany], [ca. 1856]

1 item, 30 blocks in case ; 23 x 19.5 x 5 cm

This is a PRELIMINARY RECORD. It may contain incorrect information. Please email catalog@folger.edu for assistance.

Germany -- Nuremburg, -- publication place.

273161

From dealer's description: "61[SHAKESPEARE BLOCK TOY]. THE WINTER’S TALE by W. Shakspeare. A Cubes-Game - Das Wintermärchen von W. Shakspeare als Cubusspiel - Le conte d’hiver par W. Shakspeare en un ed cubes. [Germany, Nürnberg], [c. 1856]. Containing 30 blocks [each 3 mm square], with 6 dissected hand-coloured lithograph each depicting a separate scene in the play (seven blocks with some damage with some slight loss with a larger section depicting a section of column lacking in on one block; together with 6 hand coloured tinted lithograph ‘key’ sheets, some minor edge tears to two sheets; all contained in the original box (slightly warped) with hinged lid with two hook catches, [23 x 19.5 x 5 cm], the upper-side with a large hand coloured and illustrated title label depicting a family group with the mother demonstrating the game to her four children; gilt embossed paper border; some edge wear to blocks and minor scuffs to the box but otherwise fine; small circular gold printed retailers label on the underside of the lid ‘Maison Simonne Passage Delorme, No.1,3,5,7 et 9, Rue de Rivoli, 188.’ A delightful and unrecorded block game depicting the chief scenes in Shakespeare’s Winter’s Tale, showing the play as staged by Charles Kean in 1856 at London’s Princess Theatre. The six scenes depict Syracuse, about 330 B.C. :- 1. The Winter’s Tale, Act I Scene II [ The banqueting Room in Leontes’ Palace depicting ladies of the corps de ballet attired in glittering armour as youthful warriors] - 2. The Winter’s Tale, Act II Scene I [Hermione in one of the private rooms of the palace surrounded by the young Prince Mainillius, and her attendant ladies] - 3. The Winter’s Tale, Act III Scene I [A Court of Justice depicting Hermionie’s trial] - 4. The Winter’s Tale, Act IIII Scene IIII [The dance of the shepherds and shepherdesses] - 5. The Winter’s Tale, Act V Scene I [The garden of Leontes, apparently adapted from a drawing found at Herculaneum] - 6. The Winter’s Tale, Act V Scene III [The statue of Hermione stood stage centre in a small circular temple surrounded by a torchlight procession]. The designs were adapted from Charles Kean’s ideas on how to stage the play, executed by the great Victorian scene painter Thomas Grieve (1799–1882), with assistance on architectural detailing from George Godwin (1813–1888). Kean’s passion for archaeological detail flowed irresistibly through the scenery, properties, and costumes, extending even into the stage business. For his new production of The Winter’s Tale - accepted as one of Shakespeare’s so-called ‘problem plays’ - Kean was quite willing to excise anything from the text that he felt was incongruous with his interpretation. Whatever the merits of this production, it was a huge success, running for 102 nights. As far as we can tell, the scenes depicted on the block toy were never published and appear to correspond approximately to the watercolours of the scenery by Thomas Grieve, now held at the Victoria & Albert Museum. However, a separate series of watercolours by Louis Haghe, held in the Royal Collection, is an equally probable source. Given the play’s long run, it would have been easy enough for another artist to make sketches and forward them to the German toy makers. The style of the label on the box lid for the toy is very redolent of the work of Georg Wolfgang Faber or someone making a very good attempt at copying his distinctive style, and may have been something of a collaborative production of the German toy makers based in Nürnberg. See Dennis Bartholomeusz. The Winter’s Tale in performance in England and America, 1611-1976 1982 and John W Cole. The Life and Theatrical Times of Charles Kean, 1859 for more context on the impact of Kean’s production."

Ordered from Marlborough Rare Books, D9823, 2025-04-23, Cat. Spring Miscellany, item #61.

273161