Cherub Toy Theater - Part 1

Hi all - I'm back with another vintage paper theater.

This time I've chosen to alter a sweet little German Theater with cute cherubs on it.

It seemed like I nice little theater to share around Valentine's so I hope you like it too.

Today I'm bring you Part 1 of the Cherub Theater and then next time 

I'll share a nice assortment of my altered and colored versions of it.

Enjoy using the images for your crafting pleasure!

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My Digitally assembled version of the vintage paper theater

Once again the original paper theater came as an unassembled paper sheet which needed to assembled into a toy theater.  I've done it digitally; however back in the 1800's this would have been done on a wooden or heavy cardboard base and turned into a dimensional and working theater.

An assembled version of the theater located - HERE - part of an exhibition at the Museum of Performance & Design

This photo gives you an idea of what the "working" toy theater looks like.

 And here is what the original uncut paper theater sheet looked like.

The original Toy Theater sheet - from Pilllpat on Flickr - HERE

This item is attributed to publisher Joseph Scholz and is listed as Proscenium 301.

Note the image at the side of the sheet to show users how the parts should be assembled.


update 2/13/13 - I was informed that this particular theater is called the "Putti Theatre". 
"Putti" being those little winged angel heads on the left and right base of the theater. 
A special thanks to Harry Oudekerk for this informative gem.

Harry Oudekerk has a Toy Theater website at 
http://www.vischmarktpapierentheater.nl 
and more can be seen on his archived page at  
http://www.toytheatre.info/Archives/VoorGigi/Index.html

I started with the vintage un-cut image, brightened it up a bit and then assembled it digitally. 

Then I began making alterations to change the look moderately. Next I added in a few curtain options to see how it changed the look of the theater; and these are the results I got.

Digital EKD version of a Joseph Scholz paper theater and curtain

In this version I removed the top drape on the theater and then I added in a full 

Joesph Scholz paper curtain into the opening.  It's a busy look but it works.

EKD Digital version of a Vintage Paper Theater and Curtain

Next I left in the original red curtain topper on the theater and popped in this fun vintage paper curtain. I do not know the maker of this paper curtain but I love the way it looks with the theater.

EKD Digital version of a Vintage Paper Theater and Curtain

 And for another different look  - I removed the theater curtain topper 

and replaced it with this open 1880's Jos. Scholz curtain.

Curtain Sheet - unassembled

 The curtain starts off in this stage and then you have to assemble it for use. 

EKD Print and Play sheet with Paper Theater parts

 This is a quick print sheet with all the individual parts used to create the different theater looks.

Most of the items are by the Publisher Joseph Scholz.

 Since Toy Theaters are more of a European hobby and you may never have heard of Joseph Sholz, I thought I'd put in a little blurb with the information I had on this publisher.

*****

 A bit about the German publisher Jos. Scholz.

The company was started by Joseph Carl Scholz (1768-1813) and passed to his sons after his death. They expanded into Lithographic printing in 1820 and by 1829 the company was split between 3 bothers. The two eldest settled in Mainz and started producing Penny Prints, Paper Toys, Board Games and later expanded into Illustrated Children's books.

At the height of their success they had twenty large presses that had a hard time keeping up with the demand and as many as 350 colorist, usually women, working on the prints. Though located in Germany they produced items for other countries as well, which explains why on some of their prints you may see instructions or notations in multiple languages. It was not uncommon for there to be between 2-5 multi-language notation, depending on how many countries a sheet would be sold.

German,Italian, French, English, Danish, Swedish, Dutch and sometimes even Latin would appear on a Jos. Scholz sheet.

*****

Those of you who follow my blog know I love to digitally alter and change images.  This "Cupid's Theater" is no exception and here is a little sneak peek of what's coming up next time in Part 2.

Additional changes continue on the theater to give a new look

 I decided to add in a base for the theater, remove the original curtain topper, 

add in the alternate open curtain and modify the theater's coloration.

Once I had this format the way I wanted I then made some significant color changes 

and brought in one more JS curtain option for when it's "curtain down" time.

EKD Altered Versions on the Cupid Theater

 This preview sheet gives you a glimpse of the images I'll be posting in Part 2;

 so check back in to see all the pretty color combinations I've come up with.

Click HERE for Part 2

Till Next Time...