Bidding for this lot will end on Sunday, December 7th. The auction will begin at 3:00PM GMT (7:00AM PST) and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Friday, December 5th or Saturday, December 6th.
A magnificent key master setup from The Tailor of Gloucester, one of the most visually striking productions in The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends series, produced by TVC London.
Produced in the early 1990s, The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends adapted Beatrix Potter's most beloved tales into short, film-quality episodes that set a new standard for British animation. This sequence, directly based on Potter's 1902 story, captures both the charm and melancholy of a cold winter's night in Gloucester, realised through subtle colour transitions and intricate environmental detail.
This large-scale vertical pan cel and matching hand-painted production background appear on screen between 11:26 and 11:34, during a camera pan that follows Simpkin, the tailor's loyal but mischievous cat, trudging home through the snow-covered streets.
The artwork measures an impressive 72 cm in height by 35 cm in width, making it one of the largest setups from the series. The cel is meticulously painted on reverse, layered over a beautifully rendered background featuring steep, timbered buildings dusted with snow beneath a rich midnight sky. The deep blue tones and soft gradients of the painted underlay create a remarkable atmosphere and depth, a testament to the traditional craftsmanship that defined TVC's output. There are some minor marks around the edges of the background.
This piece would look extraordinary framed with spacing to preserve its layered structure, offering a sense of cinematic depth true to the original production intent. A rare and museum-worthy example of British hand-painted animation art at its finest, and an outstanding collector's piece from one of the most cherished TV adaptations of the 1990s. Dimensions (cel on background): 64 cm x 35 cm (25.25" x 13.75")
Sold without copyright; see copyright notice in the Buyer's Guide.
Estimate: £600 - 1,200 M
View all lots from WORLD OF PETER RABBIT AND FRIENDS, THE (TV SERIES, 1992-1998): THE TAILOR OF GLOUCESTER