During my lifetime, there have been two people with the surname “Attwell” who have impressed me greatly.
The first was a pianist named Winifred Atwell, very popular during the 1960s.
As a child, I loved her type of “Honky Tonk” playing, which was of course her speciality, playing on what she called her “other piano.”
This accomplished black lady gave pleasure to millions with her “Let’s join in and sing” attitude; she made people happy.
The second “Attwell” also had the power to make people smile; this time through the power of brush and pen.
Lucie Mabel Attwell was unique in the way she created images of children and pets; they were caricatures, not portraits, everything from her imagination.
Lucie’s work was being produced just at the right time; the long 1914-18 war had just finished and a little cheerfulness during this interim period was much needed.
Any signed postcards by Lucy Attwell will sell very quickly. (Image: Supplied)
Lucie Attwell was the sixth child of a very large family, her father was a butcher with a shop in London.
She was educated privately and showed talent for art.
Just to illustrate how good she was, even in her early years, she was producing work for magazines like ‘The Tattler’, ‘The Bystander’, daily newspapers including ‘The Illustrated London News’; she was even commissioned by London Transport to create posters in her own inimitable style.
Her work was spotted by Queen Marie of Romania, who was an author in her own right.
She asked Lucie to come to Bucharest in 1922; Lucie stayed for several weeks and worked hard on producing illustrations for two long stories written by the Queen.
If you are not familiar with her work, I do suggest for something bright and cheerful during these difficult times, the work of Mabel Lucie Attwell is a very refreshing breath of fresh air.
Mabel Lucie Attwell, her legacy left behind is wonderful posters, books and ceramics.
Some of the posters are very collectable, especially those she did for Macintosh’s toffee, wonderful, colourful, cheerful, cute illustrations.
The books again, she worked for so many different publishers producing colourful scenes.
We have many items now that are collectable that are associated with Mabel Lucie Attwell’s work, probably the most plentiful are post-cards; items of china, mainly produced by Shelley, but decorated with Attwell’s work, prints and, occasionally, original artwork.
Because of its popularity still today, the collectables are not cheap, yes, they are cute, kitsch, babyish, charming, all those things rolled into one, but they have an innocent and naïve charm, which is quite difficult to identify.
I see nothing wrong with collecting her material if it gives you pleasure, that’s all that matters.
Lucie Attwell’s postcards; these are actively collected; Normal prices from £5 – £50. (Image: Supplied)
Original post-cards can be bought for anything from £3 to £30 each; Shelley pottery items can be anything from £10 to £1,000, her original artwork, if you can find it, and it is genuine, would be anything between £1,000 to £10,000.
To both Attwells, a big “Thank You”; our lives have been enriched by your talents.
Mabel Lucie Attwell died in November 1964 and she was born in 1879.
Winifred Atwell, the pianist, she was born in 1914 and died in 1983.
Mike Hicks has run Stalham Antique Gallery at 29 High Street, Stalham (NR12 9AH) for more than 30 years. His business is open Mondays to Fridays from 9am-1pm and 2-4.30pm, and on Saturdays from 9am-1pm. You can contact Mike on 01692 580636 or info@mikehicksantiques.co.uk or www.mikehicksantiques.co.uk.
