LOT #17023 |
Sold on Dec 13, 2025 for: Sign-in
or Join (free & quick)
Mary Blair - Alice in Wonderland Cheshire Cat 9.25" x 8.25" Concept/Color Key Painting (Walt Disney, 1951)....
Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Sold on Dec 13, 2025 for:
$10,800.00
Bid Source: Internet bidder
Description
Mary Blair - Alice in Wonderland Cheshire Cat 9.25" x 8.25" Concept/Color Key Painting (Walt Disney, 1951). "Can you stand on your head?" A vibrantly pink Cheshire Cat plays eerily with his own head in this spectacular original concept/color key painting by lauded Disney Legend Mary Blair (1911 - 1978) for the classic 1951 adaptation of Alice in Wonderland. Known for her concept and design work, particularly stylistic color keys like this which are small-scale paintings used to explore and establish color palette and theme for a particular scene, Blair's unique approach to form is on full display here including her signature full moon floating far in the background. The Cheshire Cat can be seen in a similar pose near the 40:39 timestamp of the beloved film, as he places his disconnected head back atop his shoulders with a maddening grin that blends both Blair's textbook whimsy with a slight sense of foreboding. Seated center frame on a high tree limb, he has been hand-painted in gouache to a full image area of 9.25" x 8.25" on illustration board measuring 10.5" x 9.5" overall which has been sealed with a clear varnish. A similar image with an earlier color scheme for the character can be found on page 93 of Didier Ghez's 2018 book They Drew as They Pleased Volume 4: The Hidden Art of Disney's Mid-Century Era - The 1950s and 1960s, prints included for reference. With typical handling and edge wear including corner pinholes and faint surface wear, overall this mischievous cat is in Very Good condition.Auction Info
2025 December 12 - 15 The Art of Disney Signature® Auction #7408 (go to Auction Home page)
Auction Dates
December, 2025
12th-15th
Friday-Monday
Bids + Registered Phone Bidders: 21
Lot Tracking Activity: N/A
Page Views: 389
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
20% of the successful bid per lot.
Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms
Important information concerning Sales Tax and Resale Certificates. Learn More
Terms and Conditions | Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments | Glossary of Terms