£1,900 

John Hassall:
The original design for Tom Tom the Pipers Son (running with batton) circa, 1900 (Set of 4 available)
Framed (ref: 11322)

Gouache on sugar paper 

19 x 19 inches (48.3 x 48.3 cm)

Frame Size 63cm x 63cm

Tags: John Hassall

Provenance: The artist's nephew, David Cuppleditch until c.1999; Private Collection.

Exhibited (?): The Fine Art Society, London 1900, ‘Pictures for Children’; Leighton House, London 1968, ‘A Tribute to John Hassall’.

Literature: David Cuppleditch, The John Hassall Lifestyle, Dilke Press Essex, 1979, p 135

Around the turn of the century Hassall produced a number of nursery frieze designs for Liberty's .  These original designs were printed as lithographs by Jellico and Co. to be fixed directly to the walls of children's nurseries.  As such few, possibly none, are known to have survived.  The designs were part of a wider collaboration between Cecil Aldin and John Hassall - Art for the Nursery - aimed at making the appearance of children's rooms more attractive. 
.....So very little trouble is nowadays by the majority of people regarding the fitting up of the children's part of the house.  Perhaps on the walls they paste or hang up one of two nursery rhymes, so small that the child can hardly read them.  The general appearance of the room is dowdy and unattractive.  parents seem to think that children do not derive any pleasure or benefit form any efforts they may make towards decorating the nursery.  I believe just the opposite: hence my model nursery.' (Cecil Aldin, A model Nursery, Women's Life Sept 8 1900).
The results were shown at an exhibition at The Fine Art Society in 1900 'Art for the Nursery'.
John Hassall also produced nursery friezes showing 'Old King Cole...l', 'Hark, Hark! The Dogs do Bark....' and a series of three upright panels called 'Morning, Noon and Night.  

A related series of designs for a children''s nursery by Hassall, from the same period , are in the collection of the V&A Museum.