BRIGHTENING CHRISTMASTIDE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22422, 17 November 1934, Page 4

BRIGHTENING CHRISTMASTIDE

NOVELTIES FROM THE HOUSE OF TUCK The rich variety of calendars, greetings, cards, and intriguing colourful objects that can best be described as " novelties," which the house of Messrs Raphael Tuck and Sons speeds upon its way to the corners of the English-speak-ing world at this time of the year, maintains a standard which might well discourage competitors in this festive field. It is a happy co-ordination of artistic and industrial enterprise which is testified in Messrs Tuck’s assortment of Christmas and New Year tokens, and, perhaps, only those who have some personal knowledge of fine printing will be able fully to appreciate the excellence of the work. But the merest layman, having the opportunity to inspect a sample range of the productions in colour and line, on a great variety of papers, cloths and special surfaces, which are submitted from Raphael House, cannot fail to recognise that careful planning and expert craftsmanship have gone to their making. Always of interest are the Royal Christmas cards which Messrs Tuck prepare annually 'for members of the Royal Family, and by permission reproduce for the general public. Illustrations of some of these cards appeared recently in the Daily Times. His Majesty’s card this year carries on its cover the reproduction in full colour Oi Bernard Gribble’s painting, “Windsor Castle from the and the Queen has again a bright. flower-piece from a still life by Edith Andrews. A representational nonetheless authentic in spirit because it records an interview which may never have occurred of “Queen Elizabeth giving audience to Shakespeare” is the Prince of Waless card, and that of the Duke and Duchess of York shows two dogs, a terrier and a setter, peacefully resting together. The appropriate title is, “ Sympathy, _ the artist being Mabel Gear. The Princess Roval is, like her royal mother, faithful to flower scenes as being in accord, perhaps, with the spirit of Christmastide, and her card depicts a garden. Other Christmas and New Year cards are submitted in a range which should leave no taste unsatisfied. Those who desire to depart from -the sentimental and conventional concepts of Christmas art in their greetings stationery will welcome particularly some of the newer styles, on card and rice paper, in which only two colours are employed, and : the designs are simple and effective, with the most economical use of line and scrollwork. The familiar “Auto ” stationery, which is boxed, comes in a wide selection of shapes and styles, some of the cards being plain of illustration, others depicting scenes at ■ the fireside, at the hunt, and so on. The several reproductions from etchings in this series are worthy of attention. A selection of post-cards, bearing on glossy surfaces photographic portraits of members of the Royal I amily, commends itself also, especially as the Prince who is shortly visiting New land is represented in 1 several good photographs. . , . . , The calendars range in subject from grave to gay, and in treatment from the simple and inexpensive to the elaborate, but not always necessarily most attractive, process of “oil facsira ” reproduction. A very charming portrait of thg Princess Elizabeth by de Laszlo is reproduced faithfully in its delicate pastel tints to make one of the most desirable calendars; others treat seascapes, animal groups, still-lifes, animal and flower studies, with fidelity. The block calendars, with a quotation to tear off daily throughout the year, have their appeal for the methodically-minded, and the types of quotation, inspirational, witty, or devotional, are such as to make an exact choice possible". Among the “novelties” sponsored by Messrs Tuck this year are many colours and packings in “ Lacette table doylies, and handkerchiefs boxed in suitably festive containers, with appropriate cards. The “crazy-cut” and “zag-zaw interlocking puzzles as “used by royalty, society, and the great public,’are ottered at a range of prices according to the number of pieces used in the designs (from 35 to 2000), and the scenes to which the jig-saw enthusiast may devote his attention are equally catholic.