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Saturday, January 30, 2010

Alphonse Mucha and the Disney Princess Nouveau Collection

Alphonse Mucha (1860–1939) was the Czechoslovakian artist who pioneered the ornate stained glass style of Art Nouveau. He moved to Paris in 1887 and lived as a "starving artist" for the next seven years. Then in 1894, his fortunes changed.


Around Christmas 1894, Mucha happened to drop into a print shop where there was a sudden and unexpected demand for a new poster to advertise a play starring Sarah Bernhardt, the most famous actress in Paris, at the Théâtre de la Renaissance on the Boulevard Saint-Martin. Mucha volunteered to produce a lithographed poster within two weeks, and on 1 January 1895, the advertisement for the play Gismonda appeared on the streets of the city. It was an overnight sensation and announced the new artistic style and its creator to the citizens of Paris.

Bernhardt was so satisfied with the success of that first poster that she entered into a 6 years contract with Mucha. He produced a flurry of paintings, posters, advertisements, and book illustrations, as well as designs for jewellery, carpets, wallpaper, and theatre sets in what was initially called the Mucha Style but became known as Art Nouveau (French for 'new art').
Source:Wiki

In 2008, Disney released their short-lived, but extremely popular Disney Princess Nouveau Collection, including shirts, stained glass hangings, trinket boxes and journals. Each of the main princess characters were reproduced in a style after one of Mucha's famous paintings. Ed Irizarry conceived and sketched the designs for the princesses and Enrique Pita colored them.

The Snow White reproduction was patterned after Painting from The Arts Series, 1898.

A. Mucha, Painting, 1898


Irizarry and Pita's Snow White as seen in The Art of the Disney Princess book, p.47.



Close-up.



Artist quotes from The Art of the Disney Princess book.

Book pages copyright Disney.


B+W Snow White image adapted by Jess Park from original by Irizarry and Pita.



Some of the others included Mucha's Poetry of 1898 which became Aurora from 1959.



La Plume as La Cinderella.



Also view the upcoming posts featuring Snow White's Nouveau sun catcher, puzzle, and shirts.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Snow White with Prince Snowglobe

The Prince holds Snow White in his arms while the Seven Dwarfs gather around, both in and outside of the globe. Dopey is perched on top. The wind-up key along the base plays Playful Melody. Resin and glass. Probably dates from circa 2000. Original price $55.



Enesco Snow White on Horseback w/ Prince Snowglobe

The Prince leads Snow White on horseback to his castle. The Seven Dwarfs encircle the base. Resin and glass. Measures approximately 5.75" tall x 4.25" in diameter. Wind-up key on bottom plays I Love You Truly. Manufactured by Enesco. No. 114036. Dates from circa 2002.



Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Snow White & Bunny Snowglobe - 2002

Snow White sits opposite a bunny in a mini globe. Resin and glass. Measures 3.5" high x 4" wide. Part of the 2002 Disney Princess snowglobe series. Disney Catalog retail price $15.




1994 Snow White Lithographs

A Special Edition lithograph was created by Disney Preferred Galleries in 1994 to commemorate the home video release of Snow White on VHS. It was available to customers who purchased the movie from Suncoast Video. Entitled "Let Me Se Your Hands". Housed in a protective folder.





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Another commemorative litho was issued in 1994 and was available to guests who preordered the VHS through the Disney Store. Dimensions: approximately 16" x 12" (image area 12.5" x 8.75"). Official seal in lower right corner.



Litho pictured in the matting with text on the back side.



Original envelope.



In a later post, see the 10-litho set that was included with the 1994 Exclusive Deluxe Edition Video

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

1975 'Snow White' Soundtrack Buena Vista Record Set 102

The Snow White soundtrack LP has been released on numerous occasions. In 1975, a three-disc "Commemorative Issue" boxed set was produced in the US. It was unique because it included all of the audio from the most recent movie release--all of the music, dialog and sound effects. Total run time about 85 minutes. Label: Buena Vista Records. Catalog no. 102. Format: 33⅓ rpm, 12" vinyl. Black rainbow labels.





The 1975 Snow White Screenstar Poster Magazine (see in another post) was included inside the box set. An ad with prices for the soundtrack appeared on the back cover of this poster mag. Retail $9.95 (or $12.95 for 8-track tapes).



The recording was also issued in Australia but with different cover artwork (see it in another post). A two-record version was released in Japan.

Snow White and Friends Snowglobe

Snow White meets her new forest friends in this Disney Store snowglobe. Resin and glass. Measures approximately 7.5" tall x 8" wide. Bottom wind-up key plays Brahms Waltz. Possibly dates from late 1990s. Retail $49.50.