1981? FG Trinket Box. Made exclusively in Japan for Elizabeth Arden. Southern Heirlooms. 3.25" diameter. From an unknown source.
As I try to recover information on where some items came from as they entered this collection, I almost expect to find no help online. This piece is an exception! As soon as I entered an image, all sorts of equivalent photos showed up. The piece is variously known also as a Jewelry Holder and a Candle Holder. I had not thought that one could put or pour a candle into this little creature. In any case, the presentation seems to have nothing to do with FG, since that story depends on the two being separate from each other. For a rather commonplace object, it is beautifully made. The rim has a projection corresponding to the fox's tail.
This tray may or may not belong to the set. It has the same theme of floral patterns in front of a bright red background. It features FG. 11 3/8" x 7½". Whether through scratches or just age, the metal shows through the painted design at a number of small spots on the upper surface of the tray. $65 from Marlene Schmidt, Readlyn, Iowa, August, '00.
1910? Scissors with one serrated edge showing foxes straining upward for grapes on each handle. "Italy." 6" long and 2" wide. Unknown source.
This grapes scissors is a heavier version of the scissors above found earlier. There is a curious bent in the handle of the scissors. Both foxes and grapes are well detailed on both front and back. On closer inspection, this scissors seems to be the heavier, better defined original version of which the Smith scissors above is a less defined lighter copy. How fascinating!
1900? Scissors with one serrated edge showing foxes straining upward for grapes on each handle. 5¾" long and 2" wide.
Am I correct in presuming that this is a grape scissors for cutting bunches of grapes from the larger bunch or vine? Is that silver plating that is tarnished? Click on the image to see it enlarged.
1950? "The Fox and the Grapes" salt and pepper shaker set. Apparently made in the U.S.A. Either figure is 3" tall. $24.99 from Beth Warriner, Cocoa, FL, through Ebay, August, '99.
I never thought I would see salt and pepper shakers of this fable! Painted grapes cling to the two forks of a sturdy vine, while the fox seems to hug himself and certainly licks his chops. It is of course unfortunate that the fox here is actually higher than the grapes he seeks! The cork under each shaker is missing. I think I can make out a pencilled price on the bottom of each piece: $1.25 for the pair! One person's trash is another person's treasure!
1999 Fox and grapes pin. Made in China. Topanga, CA: Zarah Company.
A 1½" double circle of gold wire supports leaves, grapes, and a fox. Beautiful colors!
1890? A brass FG button 1.1" in diameter, following the pattern of two buttons already in the collection, acquired from Goldbarg and Larner. Unknown source.
As with those two buttons, we see a tree with a high picket fence on the left. There is nothing on the ground in the foreground and the fox has his left paw on the first step of a simple ladder leading toward the grapes. Unlike other FG buttons, this has a plain rim of the same material as the button.
1996 Fox and Grape Earrings. Made in China. Topanga, California: Zarah Company.
Leaves and grapes hang down from each of the two foxes. Hand-painted enamel on sterling silver with garnet beads and amethyst Swarovski crystal. What a great find by one of the great power-shoppers!
1920? 8" cream-colored plate with a blue-green colored design depicting "The Fox and the Goat." The plate reads "Fables de LaFontaine" and "Le Renard et le Bouc." The back stamp reads "Porcelaine opaque de Gien." There is a registry mark on the plate's back. $35 from Linda Leffingwell, Doyestown, PA, June, '11.
The block lettering is typical of Gien work. The moment depicted finds the fox looking back for a moment as he begins to walk away and leave the goat helpless in the well. The two animal characters are highlighted by the scene's shading; surprisingly, perhaps, the well's mechanism is equally highlighted. The scene covers the entirety of the front of the plate.
1958 FC. "Aptitude Tested Puzzle of 20 Pieces. For Ages 4 to 8." Heavy cardboard. 10¼" x 14¼". Sold as one of a set of three (with two Hansel-and-Gretal scenes dated 1955). 4508-1 (with 4508-7 and 4508-8). Made in U.S.A. Milton Bradley Company. $4.95 from Paula Edwards, Morgantown, NC, through Ebay, Sept., '99.
Many of the pieces of this puzzle are identifiable objects. In fact, if you look in the illustration, you can find an automobile. I find it curious that now that I have finally found three picture puzzles of fables, two of them were done by the same company in the same year!
1980? Metal ashtry with FC advertising Charpentier Perpignan. Signed A. Péron. 3¾" x 4". Unknown source.
Great simple design. Three channels for holding cigarettes. A surprisingly heavy piece. I tried to find which or what "Charpentier" would have sponsored or produced this ashtray. Could it be the famous house of jewelry since 1698, Jeanne Charpentier?
2012? FC lamp shade. Student work.
The combination of fable and object has surprised me more than once in collecting some 8000 objects illustrating fables. Here is one of the surprises. I am hoping that this student remembers FC particularly. That was the goal of the exercise!
1950? Full-colored cartoon card of FC. Lyon: Volumetrix. No artist acknowledged. $4 from Bertrand Cocq, Calonne-Ricouart, France, Sept., ’20.
A little research suggests that Volumetrix expanded to include a Paris location and that they produced many cards for collection. The two different fable series found on the web seem to include titles on the illustration side of their cards. There is no such title here. It is hard to know whether this is a trade card or simply a “fable card.” With no evidence that it was used to sell a product, I will include it with fable cards. There is a stamped set of purpose letters at a 90 degree angle to the fable text on the verso.
1990? Cheese platter. Hand-painted FC in vivid colors. Circular. 11" in diameter. Handle is not present. Signed by creator "Faint? Mc? Pizza?" Unknown source, date, and cost.
I am presuming that there once was a handle that fit into the central hole. Reading that artist's signature is a challenge!
1990? Center-handle-plate. FC in vivid colors. Circular. 11" in diameter. €24 from maconlection through Ebay, Jan., '22.
I am not too sure what a center-handle-plate is used for most frequently, but this one is colorful to be sure! Unfortunately, it suffered somewhere in its long travels. I did a clumsy job of putting the major pieces back, so that we can see what the FC image is like. Might this be a one-of-a-kind piece? I find no trademarks or other indications.
2024? IPhone flexible case illustrating a "Muddled Fable" with the crow on the earth and the fox on a tree branch. $19.28 from AJSRPrints through Redbubble, Dec., '24.
Now, this is fun! This is the same approach that has a combined tortoise and hare in another "Muddled Fable." And this is the first cell phone case in the collection. Getting this case inspired me to go back and find a sticker of the same scene.
