Collection of Early 20th Century Hand-Crafted Puppets

Toy Noah’s Arks for children to play with were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th century, and Germany was very prolific in their production. This particular ark is all ori...

This Chinese opera marionette puppet is dress in an elegant embroidered silk dragon robe. The puppet head is of painted ceramic. The ornate headdress...

Large sized (13" height) Indian temple toy. Camel with rider. Very rare to see this size. India is famous for its brass and copper metal craftsmanship. It ...

Fabulous and classic cast iron toy from the early thirties. In what looks like to the original Red with Nickel Wheels and the right amount of wear to th...

This is a hand carved wood prototype for a toy that would have been the model for a 19th century cast iron or tin horse drawn hansom cab. It precedes the mol...

A wooden decorative sculpture of a horse created in early 20th century France. Playfully painted, and caught mid-pose, this charming horse ...

"Articulated Cyclist Toy – Belgian Folk Art, Early 20th Century" Early 20th Century Belgian Folk Art Articulated Cyclist Toy Handcrafted Solid Wood — Rare Colonial-Era Subject — Mechanically Designed Pedaling Motion (Belt Missing) Description A rare and remarkable early 20th-century Belgian folk art toy, hand-carved entirely from solid wood, depicting a stylized Black cyclist mounted on a painted green bicycle. The figure is fully articulated and was originally designed with a mechanical belt-drive system (now absent) connecting the foot pedals to the rear wheel. When pushed forward, the toy was engineered to simulate a realistic cycling motion, animating the rider's legs in tandem with the rotation of the wheels. Materials & Construction Primary material: Solid wood (no plywood or laminates) Figure & Bicycle: Fully carved, hand-painted in polychrome (green, red, black, ochre) Mechanical features: Jointed limbs designed to move with crankshaft motion Metal-spoked wheels on rotating axles Pulley attachment points for original belt-drive (belt now missing) Dimensions: Length: 53 cm Height: 42 cm Condition: Structurally intact; expected surface wear and patina consistent with age; belt mechanism missing but all original pulley points and joints remain. Iconography & Cultural Context The cyclist is depicted as a Black male figure in a red cap and outlined uniform, rendered in a simplified, expressive style typical of early folk toys. The toy likely reflects Belgium's colonial presence in the Congo during the early 20th century (Congo Free State until 1908, Belgian Congo from 1908–1960). Such depictions were common in Belgian visual culture of the time, often appearing in children's media, toys, and public exhibitions. This toy offers not only mechanical charm but also serves as a historical document, reflecting period attitudes and visual language. It holds curatorial interest for ethnographic, toy history, and colonial-era cultural studies. Dating & Attribution Date: Circa 1900–1930 Origin: Likely Belgium Style: Folk art, with vernacular mechanics and colonial subject matter Comparison: Closely parallels German kinetic push toys...

Vintage Raj Hand-Crafted Stuffed Cotton Embroidered Elephant, India, 1950. Anglo Raj vintage hand-crafted stuffed cotton embroidered elephant, India, 1950. Handmade in Rajasthan, India, colorful fabric elephant toy. Vintage small elephant stuffed cotton embroidered and decorated with small mirrors, great collector piece. Anglo Raj, small stuffed elephant...

Set of two vintage wood pull toys, 20th Century. Charming folk art circus wagon and pair of ducks. Circus wagon has applied lithograph of performing ch...

Salesman Sample : Late 19th century. American (4) wheeled hand carved all wooden horse drawn flat bed cargo wagon, in excellent condition with original red st...