PLEASE LOOK AFTER THIS BEAR

Late 50's Paddington Bear  Barkcloth Curtain Print

With many a childhood memory of Paddington Bear that has spanned across all generations since the 1960's you can imagine how thrilled I was when I found this pair of delightful curtains... in fact I had two pairs but one sold very quickly.  They were baby blue and this gorgeous baby pink.... I wonder if they were originally bought for twins or did they buy twos pairs because back in the early 60's you did not know what the stork was going to bring.  I date them late 1950's Early 60's for the simple reason that they are the original Peggy Fortnam drawings for Michael Bonds first book.  The fabric is a cotton bark cloth which is a large indicator that they are 50's early 60's.  The Book came out in 1959 with Peggy's illustrations, before becoming an illustrator Peggy was an art teacher, painter and textile designer.  The early drawings did not have Paddington wearing so many clothes and he did not start wearing his boots until 1962.

 Back then they would have been hung with just neutral painted walls, as getting the nursery ready was not as easy as when you know what you are getting then curtains would be added after the baby is born to suit boy or girl, this way as your child grew you just changed the soft furnishings and did not have a total re-decorate like we so often do now with fancy wallpapers and borders etc...in the 50's it was still very often a make do and mend mentality after the war.

I just love the expressions on Paddingtons face as he is going about his day .... very rare beauties indeed.