Lost Jungle Book Paintings Found After 100 Years in Home
A London family just discovered that two watercolors hanging on their walls for decades are original Jungle Book illustrations lost for over a century. Only six of the original 16 paintings are known to survive.
Two original watercolor illustrations for Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book have been found hanging unrecognized in a London family's home after being lost for more than 100 years. The discovery doubles the number of known surviving originals from this legendary 1903 collection.
The family, who wish to remain anonymous, never knew they owned pieces of literary history. "These drawings were never treated as 'important' works in our family. They were simply part of our home," they said.
The twin brothers Edward and Charles Maurice Detmold created these watercolors in 1903 when they were just 20 years old. One painting shows Mowgli with Bagheera the black panther, while the other depicts Cold Lairs, home of the Monkey People.
Publisher Macmillan & Co commissioned 16 illustrations for a deluxe portfolio, reportedly limited to 500 copies. The portfolio was so beloved that people framed the individual plates as art, breaking up most of the complete sets in the process.
Only six of the original 16 watercolors are now known to exist. The other four are scattered between private collections, the Natural History Museum, and the National Trust.
Why This Inspires
These paintings tell a bittersweet story of young genius. The 1903 portfolio was the Detmold twins' final collaboration and made headlines on both sides of the Atlantic. Reviewers singled out these exact two watercolors for special praise.
The artwork launched the brothers' careers at an incredibly young age, proving that talent can shine through even in youth. Tragically, Charles Maurice died by suicide at age 25, making this joint venture all the more precious.
London auction house Roseberys will offer both paintings for sale on March 10, with each expected to fetch $20,000. "To be able to bid for two of the six known surviving original watercolors is a vanishingly rare opportunity," said Lara L'vov-Basirov of Roseberys.
Sometimes the most valuable treasures are hiding in plain sight, waiting for the right moment to reveal their true significance.
More Images
Based on reporting by Good News Network
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
Spread the positivity!
Share this good news with someone who needs it
%2Fhttps%3A%2F%2Ftf-cmsv2-smithsonianmag-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Ffiler_public%2F84%2Fbc%2F84bc28e7-5bbe-41da-9bae-d8af3b3e3c4e%2Fupper_mammals_gallery_1911_credit_the_trustees_of_the_natural_history_museum_london.jpg)
