Sunday 16 October 2011

Potter's Museum of Curiousity


When I was a child in the 60s, I always looked forward to our annual coach trip to the sea at Brighton. There was always a break in the journey from our home in Berkshire. The location never altered - Potter's Museum of Curiosity in Bramber, near Steyning, Sussex.

Walter Potter specialised in anthropomorphic taxidermy where stuffed animals are dressed as people or displayed in human activities. Such displays were very popular in Victorian and Edwardian times. I loved it and so did hundreds of other people - the museum was always packed when I went there with my parents. My absolute favourite was the funeral of Cock Robin.

I was recently looking through a box of papers and found my original small collection of printed ephemera that I kept from my visits. Here is a selection of them. For this who want to know more about this marvellous collection and its sad demise, I will place a few links at the end as well as two Pathe Films short films about it. Remember to click on the images to enlarge them.


One of the booklets available that detailed some of the amazing tableaux.

A wonderful guide book filled with hand-drawn illustrations

The Kittens' Wedding
The Rabbits' Village School

My Favourite - The Burial of Cock Robin

A page from the brochure featuring Walter Potter

The frontispiece of one of the booklets

A familiar view to many. Far right is the museum, the tearoom to the left

The Squirrel Club - playing cards

The Kittens' Tea Party




POTTER'S MUSEUM




Links

Walter Potter on Wikipedia

Great selection of photographs in Daily Telegraph article


Wednesday 5 October 2011