Tortoise and Hare Tissage Paper Puzzle, 1900

Item — Box: CFC Printed Materials Box 3

Identifier: CFC2021.0297.1

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The Carlson Fable Collection is a gathering of primary fable materials at Reinert Alumni Memorial Library at Creighton University. It grew out of the personal collection of fable materials gathered by Rev. Gregory Carlson, S.J. and was given to the Creighton Libraries in 1996. There are more than 10,000 books and approximately 8,000 artifacts in the collection.

From plates to stamps, from cards to whiskey decanters, from toys to posters, you'll find just about anything you can imagine here. Please explore all that is to offer here in my fables Catalogue of Objects.

This is the largest online catalog of fable related objects on the internet. Many are from Aesop's Fables but you will find La Fontaine, Velazquez and Krylov also represented in this collection.

Dates

1900

Extent

.5 Linear Feet : Paper puzzle woven from strips of paper. TH. "(I?)RIS."

Language of Materials

French

Additional Description

Abstract

Here is another lovely surprise! I do not think I have before encountered this kind of picture, constructed of a frame and then perhaps 6 horizontal and 6 vertical strips, carefully calibrated to fit together and cover each other to create an exact full-color image of TH. The scene, I presume, has the two near the end of the race as the hare tries to make up for lost ground. I have learned in my minimal handling of this highly delicate object that horizontal strips can easily "droop" a bit and open up white spaces. It is a delicate but rewarding task to bring them back up to their proper position! I can guess that it took significant time and care to weave this picture so well! I wish I knew more about its producer and circumstances!