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Winterthur Museum Acquires One of the Earliest Known American Depictions of the Easter Bunny
artknowledgenews ^
Posted on 04/24/2011 7:55:09 AM PDT by JoeProBono
WINTERTHUR, DE - Winterthur Museum recently acquired one of the earliest known American depictions of the Easter Bunny, which was sold at Pook & Pook auction house in Downingtown , Pennsylvania . Together with the Christmas tree, the custom of the Easter rabbit and colored eggs was brought to America by immigrants from southwestern Germany in the 1700s, and has become a favorite American tradition. This delightful image is attributed to schoolmaster Johann Conrad Gilbert (1734–1812), who emigrated from Germany in 1757 and ultimately settled in Berks County , Pennsylvania . He likely made the drawing as a gift for one of his students. A similar drawing, also attributed to Gilbert, is in the collection of Colonial Williamsburg.
These drawings are examples of a Pennsylvania German tradition of decorated manuscripts known as fraktur, which include birth and baptismal certificates, family records, writing samples, and bookplates.
TOPICS: Arts/Photography; History
KEYWORDS: easterbunny; museum; winterthur
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To: JoeProBono
That top one looks like the Easter dragon. Complete with scales and horns, and maybe a little bit of flame coming out of his mouth.
Scary.
2
posted on
04/24/2011 7:57:04 AM PDT
by
DManA
To: DManA
3
posted on
04/24/2011 7:59:02 AM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize ;-{))
To: JoeProBono
4
posted on
04/24/2011 7:59:25 AM PDT
by
csvset
To: JoeProBono
These are the only rabbits I'm interested in today! :)
5
posted on
04/24/2011 7:59:30 AM PDT
by
Diana in Wisconsin
(I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
To: JoeProBono
I think the one with President Bush was at my hould this morning.
6
posted on
04/24/2011 8:01:10 AM PDT
by
dalebert
To: JoeProBono
Any pictures of the Easter Beer Bunny ?
7
posted on
04/24/2011 8:02:18 AM PDT
by
Squantos
(Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
To: JoeProBono
That is one scary clown in the lower left.
Why are you trying to freak us out?
Great picture of Mr and Mrs Gipper though.
8
posted on
04/24/2011 8:04:12 AM PDT
by
DManA
To: JoeProBono
Not all presidents have fond memories of bunnies:
9
posted on
04/24/2011 8:04:58 AM PDT
by
Michael.SF.
(Going to Charlotte for the barbecue is like going to Minneapolis for the gumbo - John Reed)
To: JoeProBono
I don't believe in the Easter Bunny either.
10
posted on
04/24/2011 8:05:04 AM PDT
by
newheart
(The trouble ain't too many fools, but that the lightning ain't distributed right. -Mark Twain)
To: Diana in Wisconsin
11
posted on
04/24/2011 8:05:04 AM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize ;-{))
To: JoeProBono
The Easter Bunny predates this by centuries. It is actually part of a secret society- The Hare Club for Men.
12
posted on
04/24/2011 8:08:23 AM PDT
by
mnehring
To: Michael.SF.
13
posted on
04/24/2011 8:08:43 AM PDT
by
JoeProBono
(A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize ;-{))
To: Michael.SF.
To: JoeProBono
15
posted on
04/24/2011 8:13:04 AM PDT
by
Michael.SF.
(Going to Charlotte for the barbecue is like going to Minneapolis for the gumbo - John Reed)
To: JoeProBono
16
posted on
04/24/2011 8:14:05 AM PDT
by
Squantos
(Be polite. Be professional. But have a plan to kill everyone you meet)
To: newheart
Me neither
17
posted on
04/24/2011 8:17:12 AM PDT
by
BBell
To: mnehring
The Easter Bunny predates this by centuries. It is actually part of a secret society- The Hare Club for Men.Is that a Trump joke? ; )
To: JoeProBono
19
posted on
04/24/2011 8:27:15 AM PDT
by
Diana in Wisconsin
(I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set...)
To: JoeProBono
20
posted on
04/24/2011 8:29:37 AM PDT
by
Godzilla
(3-7-77)
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