Nov 29, 2007- January 6, 2008
A lighthearted and warm look at the tradition of gift giving during the
holiday season.
A
festive exhibit celebrating the traditions of Christmas time, The Gift,
takes a nostalgic look at gifts that would have been given to children in
years past. The exhibit features a collection of antique toys on loan from
Fort Concho National Historic Landmark as well as a small collection
of doll houses, some on loan from area residents. In addition the exhibit
will highlight a collection of rare items from Raphael Tuck and Sons, the
British company that in the Victorian Era created the printed Christmas card
and paper doll. Begun in London in 1866 by Raphael Tuck and his wife, immigrants
from Germany, the establishment expanded extensively. Branches were started
in Paris and New York; new departments opened and the company added calendars,
books, postcards and children's publications to their line. At this time,
they began printing paper dolls, a practice that was to continue through the
first half of the twentieth century. In 1893 Queen Victoria honored the firm
with a Royal Warrant. Throughout the decades the sons and grandsons of the
founder directed this famous establishment. The last of the Tuck family descendants
retired from the company in 1959 and in 1965 the firm became a member of the
British Printing Corporation. The collection on display at the museum includes
paper dolls, postcards and other publications which are on loan from Christopher
Tuck, who is a former San Angelo resident and a descendant of Raphael
Tuck.
Exhibit Sponsored by
Historic City Center Project, Inc.
d.b.a. Cactus Hotel
San Angelo Museum
of Fine Arts
One Love Street
San Angelo, Texas 76903
Fax: (325) 658 - 6800
Phone: (325) 653 -
3333
e-mail:
museum@samfa.org