Question:
I found this set of six little squares at an estate sale. They are cotton, with stamped-on prints, and they're each about 5 1/2" square including the fringe.
I can't figure out what they were for... needlework patterns? miniature pillow fronts? some kind of mini napkins or placemats?
The pictures are so sweet too, and they seem to be telling one or more stories or fairy tales, but I can't put my finger on which ones.
Maybe the girl on the pillows is the Princess and the Pea? The girl with the butterfly could be Thumbelina? The toy soldier could be from the Nutcracker...I'm just guessing. Anyone else have any thoughts? The boy in black appears in three of the squares.
Answer:
I've done some google searching and haven't found anything yet, but I did notice a few more things:
wooden shoes on the guy
blue gal has a crown in at least 3 panels
Wooden shoe guy riding a goat, carrying a chicken/crow/magpie? What's that about?
Stuffed dog/toy and toy soldier and gold coins in a chest?
Shepherdess & a guy in a tophat (not the same guy who rides the goat/has wooden shoes/dances) standing or sitting on a chimney with a ladder???
Butterfly/moth, lily-pad, reeds, tiny girl
Princess on the stack of cushions
What an interesting mix...

Answer:
Wooden shoe guy riding a goat, carrying a chicken/crow/magpie? What's that about? I know! Isn't that one cute?! Yes, it looks to be a crow or some black bird he has caught. Seems pretty specific, doesn't it, like it should be line right out of a nursery rhythm but I sure can't place it.
I think you're right too, that the fellow on the roof with his lady is different than the other two. At least he's wearing a different hat.
The one I call the princess is in 3 of them at least, wearing her crown.
They are sweet.... I sure hope I can learn more about what they were originally from or used for.
Answer:
I'm guessing luncheon napkins. I'd say cocktail napkins, but they seem geared to kids.
I'm also guessing that they're scenes from European fairy tales. If I can find it easily and have time, I'll glance through my French fairy tale book later.
Answer:
Coasters?
Answer:
I found my French book, but nothing seemed similar. Sorry!
Answer:
The second one, top, looks like The Princess and the Pea.
Answer:
Hi everybody
Thanks for looking up the fairy tales, Deb.
I'll just keep making guesses at them.
I agree about the Princess and the Pea.
I was thinking cocktail = whoops! - luncheon napkins too
My hands are giving me fits today with the damp weather here (arthritis) so I'm gonig to keep this short, but I wanted to say thanks for the ideas.
Answer:
The figures all seem to be from assorted fairy tales mixed up together. The princess and the pea seems obvious and the girl with the staff could be from Mary had a little lamb. The ring of girls, Ring around the Rosy?
The blackbird possibly from:
Sing a song of sixpence,
a pocket full of rye;
Four and twenty blackbirds,
Baked in a pie.
When the pie was opened,
The birds began to sing;
Wasn't that a dainty dish,
To set before the king?
The king was in the counting house,
Counting out his money;
The queen was in the parlor,
Eating bread and honey.
The maid was in the garden,
Hanging out the clothes;
When along came a blackbird,
And snipped off her nose.
Oh, and didn't Jack somebody, kiss all the girls and make them cry?
Answer:
The picture with the boy and 5 (or 6) girls reminds me a bit of "Georgie Porgie" (sp?) (yep, he is the one that kissed the girls) but what would the kettle mean? I found a dutch (don't know if those are really wooden shoes, but perhaps) folktale that fits the picture better, but it may just be a coincidence...
http://www.compassrose.org/folklore/...re-Cheese.html from this list:
http://www.compassrose.org/folklore/dutch/contents.html