Original Disney Watercolor Paintings at RR Auction

A remarkable collection of original Walt Disney Studios watercolor paintings from Pinocchio will be auctioned by Boston-based RR Auction. 

The complete set of 120 watercolors tell the story of Pinocchio, 1940, and the series of vivid and incredibly highly detailed paintings portray the memorable characters of the classic film, including Pinocchio, Jiminy Cricket, Geppetto, Figaro, Cleo, the Blue Fairy, Stromboli, Lampwick, and others. These original paintings were produced to make stickers to be included in boxes or tins of De Beukelaer cookies produced and sold in Belgium, which were collected by customers and pasted into a storybook album. 

These special paintings were painted by the top Disney artists located in England, who had been handpicked by Walt Disney. All the art was painted to model using Disney model sheets and instructions coming from the Disney Publicity Department in Burbank, California. The artwork then had to be approved by the studio, and, of course, Walt Disney himself.

Includes the complete De Beukelaer Pinocchio storybook containing the stickers for which this artwork was used. Although similar De Beukelaer sticker promotions were done for Snow White and Dumbo, the original watercolors for those have never surfaced. The cards and stickers are quite rare just by themselves, but to find the original paintings is a miracle! It is virtually unheard of to have a complete set of original Disney artwork, and it is unknown whether the artwork for Snow White and Dumbo even survived World War II. The artwork is on individual illustration boards, each measuring approximately 5 x 3.5 inches. (Estimate: $75,000+) 

“In over 50 years of collecting, our animation experts have never seen another single painting, never mind an entire set,” said Bobby Livingston, Executive VP at RR Auction.

“It’s an absolutely outstanding one-of-a-kind collection of incredibly detailed Pinocchio artwork which is of tremendous rarity,” added Livingston. 

Additional highlights of the more than 100 Animation lots include: 

Sleeping Beauty and Prince Phillip production concept painting by Eyvind Earle from the Walt Disney Studios, 1958 film. This particular painting came to be the model for the cover design of the Sleeping Beauty 'Big Golden Book.' Estimate: $12,000+) 

It's a Small World original concept painting by Mary Blair for the facade of the 'It's a Small World' exhibit. (Estimate: $14,000+) 

Briar Rose production cel and partial production background from Sleeping Beauty. (Estimate:  $10,000+) 

Cinderella's Coach production concept painting by Mary Blair from Cinderella. (Estimate: $12,000+)

Maleficent and Goons production cels and pan production background from Sleeping Beauty (Estimate: $9,000+)

Wicked Witch production cel from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. (Estimate: $9,000+)

Jenny and Joe production concept painting by Mary Blair from Melody Time (Estimate: $7,000+)

Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather production concept painting by Eyvind Earle from Sleeping Beauty (Estimate: $6,000+)

Mickey Mouse production concept painting from Fantasia (Estimate: $6,000+)

Snow White production concept drawing from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (Estimate: $4,000+) 

The Fine Autographs and Artifacts from RR Auction began on November 17 and will conclude on December 6.  More details can be found online at www.rrauction.com.