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1995: Australian Galleries - Melbourne.
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1992: Powell Street Graphics, South Yarra, Australia
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Aesop -- Life and Fables. Stonington Stables Museum of Art, Deakin University. 2004.
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The Fables of Aesop. Canning Street Press. 1991.
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Thimble Bertrand and Raton
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Thimble Fox and Stork
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Thimble Milkmaid
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Thimble Wolf and Lamb
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Thimble Tortoise and Hare
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Thimble Two Pigeons
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Thimble Wolf Turned Shepherd
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German Verse Coins 1900? A metal coin slightly over 1" in diameter showing the fox and the crow on one side and German verse on the other. $38.59 from Kevin Kelley, Harrisburg, SD, through Ebay, July, '99.
The verse reads "Wann Dein Spiel der Gegner preiset,/ Dann gieb doppelt auf Dich Acht,/ Und erinn're Dich des Raben,/ Den zuletzt der Fuchs verlacht." That is, "When your opponent praises your play, pay doubly close attention to yourself and remember the crow, on whom the fox had the last laugh." I am tempted--but afraid--to clean and polish up this old coin. Who knows what circumstances ever gave rise to the distributing of a coin like this!
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Ballard La Fontaine Lapel Pins 2000? Set of 7 Ballard lapel pins. "Doré Fin d'Or." €19.90 from Mabillon75 through Ebay, May, '22.
It took me a while to figure out OR. Ballard seems to have been known -- or to be known now -- for its lapel pins. Here are seven of La Fontaine's most beloved fables rendered in pins.
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ArtSquatch Fox and Grapes 2020 Fox and Grapes Hard Enamel Pin. By Artsquach. About 2½” x 2 ½”. $14 from ArtSquatch through Etsy, July, ’21.
This is a beautiful pin that I missed when I first ordered a heron from ArtSquatch. This fox, like Caxton’s, just looks at the out-of-reach grapes. Lovely work!
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ArtSquatch Heron and Snail 2020 Heron and Snail Hard Enamel Pins. By Artsquach. Heron about 2½” x 2 ½”. $14 from ArtSquatch through Etsy, Dec., ’20. Smaller snail purchased from Artsquatch through Etsy for $8, July, ’21.
This is the most glorious fable heron I think I have seen! The heron is a very heavy pin! When I first ordered, I did not realize that the snail was a separate pin. Now, as I was cataloguing, I noticed and circled back. Lovely work! I know the heron fable well from La Fontaine. Was there really an Aesopic version?
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Merry Christmas from Mickey Mouse: Advent Calendar Pin Series 2000? “Merry Christmas from Mickey Mouse: Advent Calendar Pin Series, Days 17 through 20.” Limited edition of 1500. Max Hare, Toby Tortoise, Orphan, and Horace Horsecollar. Overland Park, KS: Disney Direct, $14.99 from DrMallon26, Cressona, PA, through Ebay, March, ’04.
I cannot believe that I am cataloguing these pins over seventeen years after getting them! The two fable pins are particularly well done. Heavy jewelry! Did Disney actually market sets of pins for every four days in December?
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Countess Aesop's Fables Pin
1930? A pinback 15/16" in diameter, labelled "Aesop's Fables - Countess - 23." $1 from James Lennon, Naples, NY, through Ebay, June, '99.
Against a white background we find "Aesop's Fables" at the top, "Countess at the bottom, and "23" on the right side. In the cneter is figured a dancing female mouse. I suspect the pin has something to do with the Aesop's Fables movie cartoons that were popular at the time. My, what one does not find! In this case, the price was certainly right!
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Waffles Aesop's Fables Pin
1930? One pinback 15/16" in diameter, labelled "Aesop's Fables - Waffles - 22." $2 from Connie Amos, Flushing, OH, through Ebay, March, '00.
Against a white background we find "Aesop's Fables" at the top," Waffles" at the bottom, and "22" on the right side. In the center is a dancing animal. Printed around the rim of the back: "Western Theater Premium Co., 1956 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, Cal." I presume these pinbacks were theater give-aways. Again, I got lucky on the price!
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Don Aesop's Fables Pin 1930? A pinback 15/16" in diameter, labelled "Aesop's Fables - Don - 19." $5 from Mark's Gallery, Savanna, IL, through Ebay, August, '99.
Against a white background we find "Aesop's Fables" at the top, "Don" at the bottom, and "19" on the right side. In the center is figured a walking male. This is no doubt Don the Dog from the Aesop's Fables movie cartoons that were popular at the time. This button helps me to make sense of the "Countess" button found earlier.
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Mike Aesop's Fables Pin
1930? One pinback 15/16" in diameter, labelled "Aesop's Fables - Mike - 18." $2 from Connie Amos, Flushing, OH, through Ebay, March, '00.
Against a white background we find "Aesop's Fables" at the top, "Mike" at the bottom, and "18" on the right side. In the center is a dancing mouse. Printed around the rim of the back: "Western Theater Premium Co., 1956 S. Vermont Ave., Los Angeles, Cal." I presume these pinbacks were theater give-aways. Again, I got lucky on the price!
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The Fox and the Grapes 1890? 2 matched FG buttons, .6" in diameter. $25 from Joyce's Jems at the Dulles International Antiques Show and Sale, April, '97, and $12 from Joni Goldbarg through Ebay, April, '99.
The same scene as in the 1.5" Joyce's Jems large button. Apparently they were meant to be used together. The buttons seem to have a circle of metal shaped around the hook-bearing metallic or celluloid base.
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White metal FG casting 1980? White metal FG casting ready to be made into a brooch. 85 exemplars. 1¾" from top to bottom. $10.49 from Joseph Cairo, Johnston, RI, through Ebay, August, '00.
I thought I was bidding on one item made up of 88 parts. Imagine my surprise when a heavy box came with eighty-eight such pieces. I gather that each is waiting for a hand to paint it and for a pin to be laid across the support mounted on the back. Click on the image to see a larger version.
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Hand painted solid brass brooch of fox and grapes 1910? Hand painted solid brass brooch of fox and grapes. $13.50 from "casajewelry" on Ebay, June, '00.
Soldered joint and catch pin assembly. "Stamped by tooling from the early 1900's," according to the Ebay seller's description. An "old gold" finish has apparently been applied to a 14kt gold plating.
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Needlepoint 2004 Needlepoint of FC "Wrought by the Hand." Dorothy Unangst. 9½" x 7½". Unknown source and time of acquisition.
Very nice work! In this case, the crow is perched on top of a roof rather than in a tree. The composition is lovely. Trees on either side frame the house together with the two characters. Beautifully framed.
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Racing plastic turtle 1988 Racing plastic turtle. 2½" high. Funrise Company. $3 from Frances Thompson, Fremont, CA, through Ebay, July, '00.
Frances writes that Funrise put out a line of storybook characters from fairy tales and fables. This little fellow with #18 on his chest has a great smile!