| The Public Paperfolding History Project
Last updated 16/12/2025 x |
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| The Fat Sparrow | |||||||
| This
page attempts to record what is known about the origin
and history of the origami design known as the Fat
Sparrow. Please contact me if you know any of this
information is incorrect or if you have any other
information that should be added. Thank you. As the evidence stands at present, the appearance of this design in France predates its appearance in Japan. ********** In Japan (and in books by Japanese authors) 1931 In 'Origami (Part 1)' by Isao Honda, which was published in Japan in 1931.
********** 1944 In 'Origami Shuko' by Isao Honda, which was published in 1944.
********** 1965 There is an illustration of the Fat Sparrow, but no explanation of how to fold it, in ' The World of Origami' by Isao Honda, which was published in the USA by Japan Publications Trading Company in 1965.
********** In Europe and the Americas 1929 As far as I know the first appearance of the Fat Sparrow in the West, under the title of 'La Poule Qui Couve' (The Laying Hen), is in the issue of the French children's magazine 'L'Age Heureux' of 2nd January 1930.
********** 1932 The same design appears in Booklet 5 of 'Images a Plier', a series of 6 booklets published by Librairie Larousse in Paris in 1932. Note that the commentary says that this is 'another Japanese fold'.
********** 1937 The design also appears, under the title the of 'Duck', in Margaret Campbell's 'Paper Toy Making', which was published by Sir Isaac Pitman and Sons Ltd in London, probably in 1937, although both the Foreword and Preface are dated 1936, which argues that the book was complete at that date.
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