Maurice Sendak: Moishe by Moonlight

We are plausibly told that the second state of Maurice Sendak's 1980 etching Moishe by Moonlight is a rarity, but that doesn't quite tell us how many prints of this image were actually pulled. It's an atmospheric etching of a Wild Thing that would look splendid on any wall. Some of us who admire it though might find the $60,000 price tag to be somewhat prohibitive. 

Maurice Sendak
Moishe by Moonlight
Etching, Second State, 1980

Maurice Sendak

https://www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?cm_sp=SearchF-_-topnav-_-Results&kn=Moishe%20by%20Moonlight&sts=t

I believe I saw this impressive piece on display at the Society of Illustrators in November but I was not up to the challenge of photographing it through reflective glass.

Maurice Sendak
Moishe by Moonlight
Etching, Second State, 1980
The Society of Illustrators
November 6, 2020

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Georg Jensen Brooch #88 with Lapis

In September an example of Georg Jensen brooch #88 with a lapis lazuli cabochon was sold on eBay. The brooch is small and this design is not all that common, particularly with colored stones. It is sterling silver, of course, and bears the post-1945 hallmark with the name Georg Jensen in a dotted oval.

Georg Jensen
eBay Listing Ended September 20, 2019

https://www.ebay.com/itm/SCARCE-GEORG-JENSEN-STERLING-SILVER-PIN-BROOCH-88-WITH-LAPIS-/254326931629?ul_noapp=true&nma=true&si=YQGb25QThn5Fxe78BW8tTy6VzZY%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557

Georg Jensen
eBay Item Description

Drucker Antiques has an example of this brooch design with an amethyst stone for $395. The photograph does not seem to capture the stone's color.

Georg Jensen brooch #88 with amethyst
Post-1945, .925 silver, Drucker Antiques

https://druckerantiques.com/shopexd.asp?id=475

An earlier example is all .830 silver with a silverstone:

Georg Jensen brooch #88 with silverstone
GI hallmark, .830 silver, trombone clasp

https://www.etsy.com/listing/466266544/antique-early-georg-jensen-pre-1945?item_group_id=PG_466266544

Georg Jensen brooch #88 with silver stone

GI hallmark, .830 silver, trombone clasp

https://www.etsy.com/listing/466266544/antique-early-georg-jensen-pre-1945?item_group_id=PG_466266544
  
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The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #60

A man sits perched in a birdcage while the speaker is a woman, surely his wife, who is having tea with a friend. This is the setup for the Cartoon Collections Caption Contest #60. Only three entries are permitted and I for once followed the rules. The drawing is by Christopher Weyant.

"I finally got him to stop tweeting."
"Trust me, nothing is getting laid."
"The nest has been feeling even emptier."

February 5, 2020 Update:  The Winner

Note:  Does this contest seem unusually similar to Mr. Weyant's recent New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #686 for November 18, 2019? Asking for a friend.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Christopher Weyant

Birdcages

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest

The Moment Magazine Cartoon Caption Contest

All These Cartoon Caption Contests Together

Attempted Bloggery's Airborne Index

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My Copy of Patricia Marx and Roz Chast's You Can Only Yell at Me for One Thing at a Time: Rules for Couples

Patty Marx won me over with her novel Him Her Him Again the End of Him (2007), a hilarious sendup of contemporary relationships and, as a bonus, academic pretense. Roz Chast has been one of the New Yorker's most original cartoonist voices for more than four decades. Last year the two collaborated on the book Why Don't You Write My Eulogy Now So I Can Correct It? A Mother's Suggestions published in time for Mother's Day gift giving. This year their new collaboration is You Can Only Yell at Me for One Thing at a Time: Rules for Couples published—lo and behold!—in time for Valentine's Day. I ordered my copy just before Strand's January 14 signing and it has been delivered via mail signed by both women and...dogeared.

Roz Chast at Strand
January 14, 2020

Photo by Tom Bloom

Dueling ukuleles
Patricia Marx and Roz Chast at Strand
January 14, 2020

Photo by Tom Bloom

Roz Chast and Patricia Marx discuss their book

You Can Only Yell at Me for One Thing at a Time: Rules for Couples (2020)

January 14, 2020 at Strand Bookstore

Note:  My thanks to Tom Bloom for attending the signing himself and for bringing his camera along.

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My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #695

Please accept without reservation my entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #695 for January 27, 2020. The drawing is by Elisabeth McNair.

"We don't have any toastmasters' meeting."

February 3, 2020 Update:  The Finalists

February 10, 2020 Update:  I voted with Austerlitz.


February 24, 2020 Update:  The Winner

Note:  In last week's Caption Contest, cartoonist P. C. Vey saw to it that the snow was shoveled with musical accompaniment. My caption was out of tune. Clear a path to Contest #694.

This is the first appearance on this blog of cartoonist Elisabeth McNair.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives

Restaurants

The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest

The Moment Magazine Cartoon Caption Contest

The Cartoon Collections Caption Contest

All the Above Cartoon Caption Contests and Then Some

Attempted Bloggery's Five-Star Index

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Mischa Richter: Taming of the Shrew Scarf for Richard A. Farrar

I come to wive it wealthily in Padua;

If wealthily, then happily in Padua.

The Taming of the Shrew, Act I, scene ii

As we have seen, New Yorker artists Charles Addams, Helen E. Hokinson, Anatol Kovarsky, and Otto Soglow were enlisted by Richard A. Farrar to design scarves for his label in the 1940s and 1950s. Addams's design incorporated characters from his namesake Family before it was so named. Hokinson's design has not yet made it to the internet, apparently. Kovarsky and Soglow each contributed at least two designs. And now, via eBay, we have a standard small silk scarf, 17 x 16.5 inches, in green, black, and white by cartoonist Mischa Richter. The title is Taming  of the Shrew after the popular Shakespeare play. It has a central title area with signature that incorrectly depicts the Tower of Pisa—never located in Padua—along with a cherub and a lute. Four corners have vignettes from the play and there is a surrounding border showing phases of the moon.

Mischa Richter

Taming of the Shrew scarf design in green, black, and white for Richard A. Farrar

The Leaning Tower of . . . Padua?
Taming of the Shrew copyright Richter

Music appreciation:  Katherine and Hortensio's encounter

It is actually not at all Shakespearean for Petruchio to use a whip on Katherine. The stage practice comes from David Garrick's 1754 performing version Catharine and Petruchio.

Petruchio and Katherine head off early on their honeymoon even before the wedding feast.

Happily ever after

Richard A. Farrar tag

Saks Fifth Avenue tag

Detail of moon border

Copyright and signature

Mischa Richter
Taming of the Shrew Scarf
eBay listing accessed January 7, 2020

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Mischa-Richter-Cartoon-Taming-Of-The-Shrew-Shakespeare-Hankie-Scarf-/333432075781?autorefresh=true

Mischa Richter
Taming of the Shrew Scarf
eBay item description accessed January 7, 2020

Sold for a best offer of $30

January 30, 2024 Update:  A specimen of this scarf in brown has been sold on eBay.

Mischa Richter
Taming of the Shrew Scarf
eBay listing ended November 6, 2023 with Buy It Now

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225801662806?hash=item3492d3f156:g:R~8AAOSwMw5lHIi8&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAAwF%2BzdtKGlEz0DK4oFyGGWF3pcSjAE88wpBLcUQkUM3k7WbZx8gSyOKJqYYskQFRJD8KqDrvksQ1XIn4zSoXdMmsi%2B8FrnmEgdrY0Jkv

JwXnenjCevCa2uYrlvphnvVN0jZOgqm6MH5DxcZWIcFZPv2j8KdKEnaYK%2FxbWpNVD9ryZJQnbWpZ7OF3nWDuInXtSYkd6feL1wUN5Q%2FfjN9O9ffFc3TmwKBFIlHayEoO%2BquYz%2BP9YT8olCc3M5p0PwpESXA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR8qfoKirYw

Mischa Richter
Taming of the Shrew Scarf
eBay item description

Note:  My sincere thanks to Joel Jacobus, specialist in Charles Addams memorabilia, who alerted me earlier this month to the eBay listing for this scarf when it showed up out of the blue.

The story of these Richard A. Farrar scarves designed by New Yorker cartoonists remains incomplete. Readers with new information about them should get in touch. Other scarf designs and color combinations, if any, are sought after here as well.

This blog can always use further examples of original art, as well as published rarities, by Mischa Richter.

Quick Links to the Attempted Bloggery Archives:

Mischa Richter

Richard Farrar Scarves

Women's Fashion

William Shakespeare

Valentines' Day is Coming

Attempted Bloggery's Behavior Modifying Index

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