The Gum-leaf Kindergarten Blocks
c1913. Set of 28 wooden puzzle blocks, each covered with colour lithographic images and text, in original box with two illustrated colour lithographic keys, one pasted to lid, one loose sheet, title and artist on cover of case, text in puzzle images on blocks, 23 x 38.8 x 6.8cm (case), 5 x 5 x 5cm (each block) and 20.8 x 35.7cm (loose sheet). Water damage and wear to case, broken hinges, tears and missing portions to loose sheet, minor wear to blocks. Each block has six different permutations consisting of an alphabet letter, a word using the letter, an illustration of the word, and two images for two puzzle scenes. A set of The Gum-leaf Kindergarten Blocks by V.F.P. Allen was shown in December 1913 at the Society of Arts and Crafts exhibition held at the Norwich Chambers in Sydney. At that exhibition, her “alphabet” building blocks were compared favourably along with those created by fellow exhibitor Eirene Mort (Aust., 1879–1977). New Zealand-born Victoria Frances Peele (V.F.P.) Allen resided in the family home in Manly, NSW, during most of her lifetime. She was a long-time exhibitor and office bearer with the NSW Society of Arts and Crafts. The earliest record of her exhibiting seems to have commenced at an exhibition of work by members of the Art Society of NSW in 1900, where her painting was favourably noted. Allen exhibited with the NSW Society of Arts and Crafts up to 1931. A brief article on Allen, dated 1 November 1925 in The Sun, included a photograph of her, with the writer recalling Allen’s early Gum-leaf building blocks with fondness, noting that her new Australiana learning games were also “instructive and amusing.” The National Gallery of Australia holds a linocut by Allen. Ref: The Sunday Times, 14.12.1913; SMH, 1900, 1928; The Sun, 1931; BDM (NZ/NSW).
Item #CL203-24
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