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Sculptor: José de Creeft
Architect: Hideo Sasaki
Date: 1959
Donor: George Delacorte
Material: Bronze
At the northern end of Conservatory Water sits one of Central Park's most beloved sculptures, a grouping of characters from Lewis Carroll's 1865 classic Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Alice holds court perched on a giant mushroom, reaching toward a pocket watch held by the March Hare, the host of the book's zany tea party. Her serene calm contrasts sharply with the manic expression of the nearby Mad Hatter, who appears poised to launch one of his nonsensical riddles. Crowding the edge of a smaller mushroom and nibbling on a tea goodie is the timid dormouse, who seems ready to flee any impending insult. And peering over Alice's shoulder in all the activity is the Cheshire cat.
Philanthropist George Delacorte commissioned this sculpture in honor of his wife, Margarita. The sculpture closely follows John Tenniel's whimsical Victorian illustrations from the first edition of the book. Alice herself is said to resemble de Creeft's daughter, Donna. The sculptor also included lines from Margarita's favorite poem, The Jabberwocky, in a granite circle surrounding his work:
'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe
Successful in its own right as an engaging work of art, the sculpture invites children to climb its many level and to explore the soothing textures of its surfaces. The bronze's glowing patina, polished by thousands of tiny hands, testifies to the popularity of this Central Park landmark.
To read the Parks Department's historical sign, click here.
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