Christina Rossetti Goblin Market pencil case

Pure poetry in a pencil case: the organic cotton of this zip fastened pouch is printed on both sides with a black and white image of Christina Rossetti’s protagonists Lizzie and Laura from Goblin Market, locked in a sleeping embrace of sisterly love.

The image is from the second edition of Rossetti’s Goblin Market and Other Poems, published 1865. For this edition, her broth Dante Gabriel Rossetti created some illustrations that were turned into woodcut engravings to accompany the titular poem. The drawing we have used on this pencil case, of the sleeping sisters, was chosen for the cover of the book. You can just see the goblin men in the distance, bringing their tempting fruit to their market.

The case measures 21 x 11.5 cm, and is handy for pencils, pens, make-up or as a bag organiser. We’ve made it as part of our exhibition gift shop collection celebrating Tate Britain’s The Rossettis exhibition, which takes a closer look at the poetry and artworks of Elizabeth Eleanor Siddal, Christina Rossetti, and Dante Gabriel Rossetti.

About the artists

Christina Rossetti (1830 – 1894) was an English poet. Educated at home by her mother, Rossetti was a prolific writer, and had her poems published at the age of 18. Her first commercially printed book of poetry, Goblin Market and Other Poems, 1862, was very favourably received by critics and contemporaries, who declared her the successor to Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

Dante Gabriel Rossetti (1828 – 1882) was an English painter, poet, illustrator and translator. In 1848 he founded the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood alongside Holman Hunt and John Everett Millais. He was married to fellow artist Elizabeth Eleanor Siddal, who modelled for many of his paintings. Several his works form part of Tate’s collection, including many of his most celebrated paintings.

• Artist Christina Rossetti
• Artwork Goblin Market and Other Poems, book cover
• Exhibition The Rossettis
• Dimensions 21 x 11.5 cm
• Material Organic Cotton