Saturday, March 27, 2010

Jarvis House Mantel Bunnies

One of the nice things about living in the Jarvis House is the Mantel over the fireplace.  The whole facade of the fireplace is original to the house.
There is something to be said about assembling a series of smaller objects, some old some new, but all together they make a collection.  Here is a wooden bunny game , on the order of a slapping-jack.  You hold it up and swing the bobber and the arms move.
One of the brown bunnies has flocked coat and sits upright on his own.
The bunny on the left was one of the first that I collected, and the two rocking bunnies I just found.
Beautiful dancing bunnies, and the most carefully crafted.
The little bunny in the yellow dress is new to me and seems to match the dancing bunnies in quality and style.
Four white bunnies.
Several chicks with their mother hen.
Two birds that came along for the ride.
 I saw this bunny a few years ago and couldn't resist her because she is holding a palette and a paint brush.
The bunny on the right may be a Steiff bunny.  He has a hole in his ear where the little metal pin should be.  He's been around the Jarvis house a very long time, and he has the most amazing feet.  If anyone knows the maker of this bunny contact me with the correct information.
I've always called him Uncle Wiggily, after an old board game that I played as a child.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/b/bc/Uncle_Wiggly_Game_010100.JPG

Here is a very sweet bunny holding two felt bunnies that I purchased at a Long Island antique show, years ago, for my children when they were very young.
Three floppy cloth bunnies.
The little girl bunny has a porcelain head, hands and feet.
All in all here are the little and the bigger bunnies at the Jarvis House.  There are several real bunnies out in the back garden, but they are so fast that I can't get a picture of them.  Happy Easter.

10 comments:

Elizabeth said...

Very cute!!
Hope to see them in person very soon!

Pieces of Dreams said...

Oh my goodness Lori!

The mantel with the little and original bunnies and chicks, strikes me as being very precious an sings of Easter/spring! I just love each and every one of them!

Happy Easter, dear friend! Karen

Erin | Bygone Living said...

Wow. You have an absolutely gorgeous fireplace (and house)! How old is it? 1840s? Wow, again!

Erin | Bygone Living said...

Oh, wait a moment! I looked it up, and discovered I was being much too conservative with my dating! 1795?... you're living my dream!

And come to think of it, I think I remember seeing your house now. Well, I would have to since it's on Park Avenue. So beautiful!

You should waltz by the Arsenal the next time we have an event!

Lori at Jarvis House said...

Actually, my house dates from around 1838. Years ago my son, Kevin did a project for school and we went to Riverhead to look up the deeds to this house. The man who built it Ebenezer Jarvis was given the land, because he married a daughter of the family that lived in Rex Metcalf's house. I don't know when they were actually married, so i don't know the exact date of the construction. These is a sister house, almost board for board like mine near the hospital, north of here.

Tess Kincaid said...

What a wonderful collection of bun wabbits! Happy Easter from Willow Manor to the Jarvis House! xx

Katrinshine said...

So pretty photos!
Thank you for your comment on my blog! Your words are warm up my heart!
Buona Pasqua!

JC said...

I like all your bunnies & chicks.

lisa lewicki hermanson said...

Quite a collection of Bunnies! Love the cool grey green color of your mantlepiece.

this is my patch said...

I do hope you enjoyed the Easter period in your home and garden. You've a great collection of bunnies! x