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This watercolor is based off Zuzek's real life pet monkey, Trinket, who lived in her backyard in downtown Key West. Trinket had run of the island and would come and go from Zuzek's house through his own personal door. Trinket turned up in many of Zuzek's patterns over the years, and here he appears making mischief and drinking martinis.
Trained at Pratt in New York, Zuzek was highly knowledgeable on the history of textile design. She was particularly inspired by medieval tapestries like the Unicorn Tapestries at the Met Cloisters, which show the animal on a flower-covered background. This so-called 'millefleur' technique is a clear inspiration for the present watercolor, where the background is almost completely covered in flowers.
This joyful print appeared in dozens of color ways and on a children's dress in 1972.
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Condition report
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The condition of lots can vary widely and the nature of the lots sold means that they are unlikely to be in a perfect condition. Lots are sold in the condition they are in at the time of sale.
In overall good condition and ready to hang. Please note that these original watercolors became designs used in print-making and may contain holes, notations and/or other interesting marks. With some minor areas of surface staining. Scattered pieces of tape and tape remains on the extreme edges. With rough cut left, right, and upper edges. With four pinholes to the extreme corners. With additional scattered pinholes and micro-punch holes throughout. With three hole punches along the right edge, each 5⁄16 in. in diameter. With horizontal lines in graphite tracing the profiles of painted forms. Edits made to design in gouache.