QUESTIONS FROM OUR WEBSITE:

Once again, we untie the overflowing “CAS Mailbag”, to answer inquiries that have recently come to our website. In both cases this time around, CAS answer-man Donald-Brian Johnson is put to “the rabbit test”:

Dear CAS Collectors:

I thought I remembered my favorite children’s stories pretty well, but maybe not. I recently picked up 2 Ceramic Arts Studio pieces. One is marked “Alice”, but the other is supposedly the “March Hare”. With that watch, and in that waistcoat, he sure doesn’t look like the “March Hare” to me! What’s up, Doc?

“Bugs” in Wonderland

Dear Bugs:

And you are definitely right! The dapper fellow who accompanies Alice from Alice in Wonderland is actually The White Rabbit. It’s clear as can be, right down to his fan, and sheaf of important papers.

Designed by Betty Harrington, and released in 1948, the Rabbit was, for some inexplicable reason, listed in the CAS catalogs as The March Hare, a completely different character from the Lewis Carroll books. A current value estimate for the pair, in mint condition (in particular, no broken ears on the Rabbit), would be $350-400. Hope that’s solved your Wonderland wondering!

Dear CAS Collectors:

I recently acquired a CAS mother & baby bunny pair, and have been seeking further info. I saw a CAS pair advertised on eBay as “Running Bunnies”, but my two don’t seem to be running anywhere. Just sitting. The baby fits on the mother’s lap. Can some-bunny help me?

All Ears

Dear Ears:

There are actually three different CAS mother-and-baby rabbit pairs designed by Betty Harrington. From your description, it sounds as if you have the Bunny Mother & Baby snuggle set. Ceramic Arts Studio released a variety of these animal-themed salt-and-pepper “snugglers”, which proved very popular at the time, and remain favorites with today’s collectors. A mint-condition estimate would be $90-100 for your snuggle Bunny pair.

Relatively speaking, the snuggler Bunnies are the most “realistic” of the CAS designs. The other two bunny pairs, both from 1953, are the Running Bunnies you mentioned (aka Betty & Benny), and the Kissing Bunnies, (Mommy & Tommy). The Running Bunnies are white with a floral pattern, while the Kissing Bunny Mother wears a perky hat, and Tommy has a flower by is ear. All make “24-carrot” additions to any collection!

And with that pun only Peter Cottontail could love, we hop off down the bunny trail for another issue. Do you have a CAS-related mystery? Send it to Don’s attention at our website, mailto:www.cascollectors.com. We’ll do our best to come up with the right answer (and the best puns!)

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