For the Miniature Theatre Enthusiast ... and ...

From the famous British company Pollock's Toy Museum and Toy Shop

If you click on each image, you'll get a larger and more clear image.

The history begins in 1856 in Hoxton, an area of London bordered by the wealth of the City and the poverty of the East End. This is where Benjamin Pollock was born. At this time the toy theatre trade was flourishing in Covent Garden's Theatreland. By the time Benjamin Pollock had married Eliza Redington and inherited her father's Theatrical Print Warehouse, the toy theatre trade had been overshadowed by new fangled novelties such as magic lanterns, gramophones and the wireless.

However Mr Pollock, in his dark and dusty shop in Hoxton, carried on supplying theatrical sheets costing a penny plain and twopence coloured. His customers were local children aspiring to the stage or city gents nostalgic for their childhood as well as actors of the larger stage such as Charlie Chaplin. Pollock, although not the most innovative producer of Juvenile Drama, was the most amiable and diligent.
When Robert Louis Stevenson went to visit Webb, a rival of Pollock, he found him disagreeable and after an argument went down the road to Pollock's shop and was so delighted with him he immortalised him in an essay 'If you love art, folly or the bright eyes of children, speed to Pollock's'.
After his death in 1937 the business was kept going by various parties but was revitalised in the 1960s when Marguerite Fawdry tried to purchase some character slides for her son's toy theatre. She ended up buying the whole stock of slides and printing plates and subsequently opened her museum in London's Fitzrovia which still exists. It was to delight further generations of children as well as the actors, art students, collectors of toys and those who just like to be reminded of the inventive novelties of childhood.

Peter Baldwin was one of the many people who visited the museum and could not keep away. In 1980 Mrs Fawdry opened a second small shop on the first floor of the newly renovated Covent Garden market. Peter Baldwin became manager and took over the business in 1988 with his brother Christopher. And so the Baldwin brothers continued the tradition in its native home. Benjamin Pollock's Toyshop continues to appeal to the wide range of young and old that it has always done. So please do come and visit our shop if you are ever in London, where we have as well as our theatres, lots more traditional toys for pocket money spenders to those wishing to spend their money on more expensive frivolities which will bring much happiness!

This history was taken from the "about us" link on the Pollack Toy Theatre Shop website.

I have only been fortunate enough to visit the museum and shop once - about twelve years ago. But, I do hope to return someday. I have such fond memories of enchanted hours looking - and touching! - these marvelous enchantments!

I hope you'll make a point of visiting Pollock's if you are in London!

Sometimes, the clothes say it all...

Hmmm. Think this was the first "Make Love Not War" poster? ...

Enchanted Revelries has a new blog sponsor! A hearty welcome to We will be having a special giveaway contest next week for some fabulous custom printing through U Printing!

I've been so busy this week, I've started talking to myself. I know that I've been a bad blogger ... only one post all week! Sorry. I simply MUST get all the final details done for my little exhibit next Sunday. It's absurd. It's a one day only exhibit for our Cherry Blossom Festival here - but I am spending as much time getting the work and the displays ready as if it were a two month exhibit at the American Folk Art Museum. Argh! If they were showing better movies on Turner this week, I wouldn't be resorting to talking to myself! At least I occasionally make a clever remark back to myself.
Now, go make something beautiful!

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(¸.•´ (¸.•´♥ Tristan ♥