1990? Irish linen hand towel featuring the hare riding the tortoise across the finish line. 19" x 30". "Irish Linen, Made in Ireland" says one sticker, and another marking notes "Pure Irish Linen." Another marking reads "Dunmoy, Reg." $5.99 from Dawn Friesen, Coaldale, Alberta, Canada, through Ebay, Sept., '00.
In this whimsical version, the hare has become a jockey and is riding the tortoise instead of racing him. My, the things I never knew existed! Click on the image to see a larger version.
1980? Tortoise and Hare Toothbrushes. NY: Avon Products. Source and date unknown.
Who would have thought of it?! The two simple plastic toothbrushes match one another well. The tortoise gets a unicycle and the hare a carrot to fill out their brushes.
1950? TH Teapot. Aluminum and wood. 5” high. Unknown source.
Was this little pot meant to be a children’s teapot? Or a play teapot? The illustration repeated on both sides includes a “1 Mile” marker. It was certainly used! A quick glance on the web reveals many such, though perhaps not many with fable designs.
1995? Tortoise and hare storytime pin. Goldtone with two figures connected by a bar, 4 inches across. Hand enameled with genuine Austrian rhinestones for eyes. $3.99 from Deja Vu Jewelry, Coral Springs, FL, through Ebay, July, '00.
This piece is charming, colorful, and heavy. The tortoise has the lead. Click on the image to enlarge it.
One cup, almost 3½" high and 3" in diameter, showing the tortoise and hare with the fox perhaps as starter for the race. $15 from Donna Roark at The Scarlet Ibis in McKinney, Texas, through Ebay, August, '99.
1960? Tortoise and Hare Salt and Pepper Shakers. Glass. Each about 2.75" long. Made in Japan. Hare is marked "Lefton's Reg. U.S. Pat. Off. Exclusives." Unknown source.
The tortoise is set well to be looking back at the sleeping hare. In most versions, the hare will wake up just before the tortoise approaches the finish line.
1990? Tortoise and Hare salt and pepper shaker set. Apparently made in China by Albert Price Products. $10.51 from Karen Weaver, Canfield, Ohio, through Ebay, April, '99. Extra set for $1.75 from Beverly and John Ledford through Ebay, Sept., '00.
I am delighted to have found these! My MLS fable class immediately declared them cute, and they are right. The grape-colored rabbit, running with one leg upraised, stands 2.5" tall with three holes. He looks back to see if the turtle is catching up with him. The green-and-brown turtle stands 1.5" tall with two holes. Both original corks are present and intact. The coloring is simple, and the two poses are perfect. I suppose the turtle is moving, but you would not know it!
1980? Tortoise and Hare salt and pepper shaker set. Hare 2½" tall with three holes in the top of his head. Tortoise almost 3" tall with two holes at the top of his back. $15.50 from Sandy Hyatt, Coffeyville, KS, through Ebay, Sept., '00.
The two figures have no identifying marks or labels. Neither has a stopper. The color finish of the standing tortoise is particularly rich. This hare neither sleeps nor moves.
1970? Tortoise and Hare salt and pepper shaker set. Made by New England Ceramics. Tortoise stands 1.5" off the ground, while the standing hare reaches 4". $24 from Cathy Rosenwald, Holland, PA, through Ebay, Feb., '00. Click on the image to see it in larger format.
Cathy writes that this set has been featured in Carey and Tompkins 1003 Shakers and Helene Guarnaccia's Book 3. The original stoppers are still in tact. Although this tortoise seems rather standard, the hare is holding his head in his hand and may be sleeping standing up! The few black markings and the purple ear tips on the hare make for a dramatic figure.
1935? Tortoise and hare rug. 25½" x 58". $19.99 from PAW Enterprises, Monroe, MI, through Ebay, June, '00.
The rug pictures the hare showing off as a hitter while a female hare looks on. The tortoise is presumably pitching to the hare. The motif is vintage Disney, as checking The Tortoise and the Hare or Toby Tortoise and the Hare (both 1935) will show. The reverse side shows the attempt to repair a tear or hole near the center of the rug. I never thought I would be listing a rug in this catalogue! Click on either image for an enlargement.
1980? Tortoise and Hare Ring Boxes. Felt exterior. Hare 3" high. Tortoise 2.25" long. Unknown source.
Each animal opens to accept a ring, in a slot in the tortoise and flat in the hare. The bowtie may be a first on the hare. Each does his job without a great deal of expression.
1960? Two Racers As Tortoise and Hare. Tonka Toys. Made in Hong Kong. 2.5" in length. Unknown source.
Leave it to Tonka to translate TH into a pair of fast toys! Wherever we got these, they have been well played with! I appreciate the genial smile of the hare and the concentration of the tortoise.
1995? Tortoise and hare pins. Goldtone with two figures connected by a chain, 9 inches long. Hand enameled with genuine Austrian rhinestones for eyes? Unknown source.
This piece has long awaited cataloguing, and so we do not know where it came from. But -- surprise! -- its two figures match those in a piece found 25 years ago. As in that case, the grouping is charming, colorful, and heavy.
One spice jar, 4½" high and 2½" in diameter. The fox faces the tortoise and hare, perhaps at the start of their race. The design is in fact identical with that on the cup, but some of the space between the fox and the other pair is removed on the smaller jar. The jar is marked "Parsley" at its top, and the floral pattern of the top of the cylinder is repeated on the separate lid. $26 from Nona Thompson, Stewartstown, PA, through Ebay, Feb.,' 00.
1900? Paper puzzle woven from strips of paper. TH. "(I?)RIS." $30 from Bertrand Cocq, Calonne Ricouart, France, Sept., '18.
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!
2022? Mask illustrating TH by Jenna Catton, UK, from Etsy for $10.21, Nov., ’24.
Now, this is fascinating. I checked back when I got the mask. Jenna Catton has translated this vigorous painting into all sorts of things: t-shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, tanktops, laptop skins, prints, postcards, posters, bath mats, mugs, zipper pouches, greeting cards, and journal covers! I picked “mask” because I thought it was the most surprising. I gather that we are looking at the start of the race. The hare will soon let the tortoise catch up.
2000? Hallmark get-well card. Cover shows a bandaged turtle. Inside: "It's not the speed that matters. It's the getting there. Hope you feel better soon." Gift of Pauli Ruotolo, July, '05.
A clever card like this does not even have to repeat "Slow and steady wins the race." We all know the idea, and the sight of the turtle calls it up quickly. As ever, Hallmark is clever.
1950? Movable TH greeting card for a swift recovery. 5 7/8" x 5" (6" when unfolded). T2208. Made in USA. A trademark shows "GB" on a bell. $6.95 from Mike Edelman, Solon, OH, through Ebay, Sept., '01.
The front reads "Hope you're making steady progress…And break all records for a swift recovery!" As the card is unfolded, the tortoise stretches his neck across the finish line marked "Health." The text on the inside is "Show a burst of speed." A disgruntled rabbit with a flag in his paw looks on. The card is signed twice by "Uncle Joe and Aunt Olive." When you click on this card to see it full-size, be sure to notice the second image showing the expanded version!
1999 Tortoise and Hare Earrings. Made in China. Topanga, California: Zarah Company. $30 from Suzanne Katzen, Delray Beach, FL, through Ebay, Oct., '01.
On each earring, both a tortoise and a hare hang down from a floral arrangement. Hand-painted enamel on sterling silver.
1998 Tortoise and Hare Earrings. Hand crafted with pride in Oakdale CA by the Heberts. "Mrs. Bear's Woods." Quilted maple and California walnut. $9.95 at the Petaluma crafts fair, Nov., '989.
The rabbit is a darker and larger earring with a long wire fastener. The turtle is smaller and lighter in color. Which should you wear on which ear?
1997? Tortoise and Hare Earrings. Jade colored stone with a bead for each character. Made by Maryellen Hains, Kalamazoo, MI. From an unknown source.
Like the Heberts' earrings, this pair gives one character to each ear. The maker varies the two by the arrangement of character and bead.
1996 Black and white cup featuring Robert Dole and Bill Clinton as tortoise and hare. Artist: Milt Prigee. China: Linyi. Silver phr nix. $1 from Sharon and Kelly Smith, Hayden ID, through eBay, August, '04.
The curious thing about the design on this mug is that Clinton is heading in one direction and Dole is heading in the other! The design is signed ""MPriggee. KPBX. '96. Spokane."
1900? Cufflinks of a tortoise whose shell opens to reveal a hare. Made in England? Hallmarket Silver? Source unknown.
This is some of the most delicate small work in the collection! Each cufflink has a hinged tortoise back. Opening it with clumsy fingers is not easy! Does the Hallmarket Silver box belong to this exquisite pair? And what brings a person to wear openable tortoise-and-hare cufflinks? Matched tortoise cuffliniks seem common enough on the web. I have not yet found TH cufflinks.
