Harold Gaze
(1884-1963)
Fairies
Watercolor, pen, and ink on paper
Signed lower right with artist's device: Harold Gaze
Sheet: 14.5" H x 1.5" W
Exhibited: Pasadena, CA, Pasadena Museum of History, "Nature's Palette," April 30 - June 26, 2005

Other Notes: A possible title is inscribed on the backing foam board: "The Trouble Maker."


One of the important early 20th-century illustrators, Harold Gaze's vivid and detailed depictions of fairies and fantastic creatures illuminated numerous children's fantasy books. Born in 1884 in New Zealand, Harold and his family moved to England when he was ten years old, and began his art training. Gaze honed his artistic skills at the Byam Shaw and Vicat Cole School of Art, in Kensington, and also at the Polytechnic School of Art in London.

World War I (1914-1918) interrupted his training, and Gaze tried unsuccessfully to enlist in the British army. After being rejected from service, Gaze found a job in munitions manufacturing and was sent in 1917 to New York City to inspect munitions bound for Great Britain. In 1918 Gaze moved again to Australia, and began his major period of book illustration and publishing. "War in Fairyland" and "The Wicked Winkapong" were published by Gordon & Gotch in 1918, with the first of his "Mite Merry" series published by Whitcombe & Tombs a year later in 1919. Gaze continued to illustrate for local publications and his works in Australia and New Zealand until the early 1920s, when he moved to Pasadena, alongside his older brother.

After moving to Pasadena, Gaze turned from book illustration to one-off paintings and watercolors for galleries and exhibitions, sending work across the United States. Like many artists in California in the early and mid-20th century, Gaze spent some time working for Disney Studios. Gaze provided fanciful images of fairies (and famously bubbles, as he was nicknamed the "Bubble Man") for the Disney animated film "Fantasia," which was released in 1940. Gaze passed away in 1963, leaving behind a trove of delightful, fanciful images of wonderous places. His work is held in institutions across the United States, including the National Museum of American Illustration, the Pasadena Museum of History, and the San Diego Museum of Art.

Overall good condition. Rippling to the sheet commensurate with mounting method. The sheet is taped to the overmat by Scotch tape along the verso of each sheet edge.

Framed under glass: 22.75" H x 18.75" W x 1" D Condition reports are offered as a courtesy and are typically published in Moran's catalogue or can be made available upon request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of others. Buyers are responsible for determining to their own satisfaction the true nature and condition of any lot prior to bidding. Though buyers are not legally required to inspect lots prior to purchase, failure to do so may constitute a waiver of complaint that an item was not delivered in a condition equal to the existent condition at the auction.