Description: Antique Schoenhut or German Paper Mâché Roly Poly Doll.This great looking "Dapper Clown" style roly poly doll is not marked. It could have been made by the Schoenhut Piano Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA sometime between 1908 and 1930. Or, it could have been made in Germany during a similar time frame, or earlier. German toy companies were making these type of paper mâché roly poly dolls staring in the 1800s and into the 1920s. Sometimes they were marked "Germany" but often they were not marked. The Schoenhut Company staring making these types of dolls in 1908. Schoenhut called these dolls "Rolly-Dolly." A copy of a 1908 ad from Schoenhut is shown in the last photo. As far as I know, Schoenhut did not mark their dolls. So, I don't know for sure if this is German made or Schoenhut. (If you know, I'd appreciate a quick message!).This doll is 7 1/4" tall and about 4" wide at the elbows. The condition is pretty good for the age. These paper mâché dolls are pretty fragile and few have survived unscathed.As is typical, there is some splitting along the seams at the sides. There are also chips and cracks (please see the photos).There are three metal clips or staples along the seam at the tip of the head. I don't know if these were just to hold the two halves together, or if there was a hat attached originally. About 95% of the original paint is still present and in good condition. This doll is in the "Dapper Clown" style, with painted clown face and a suit with a tie and vest. This is a rare example of these old roly poly dolls. I have only seen one other example of this doll. That example claimed that the doll was a childhood toy of American businessman James Deering who was born in 1859. So, that would place the doll into the second half of the 19th Century (1860s or 1870s?). But I have no direct knowledge of this and I cannot date the doll. One thing I noticed is that the bow tie on the doll is a 19th Century style tie. Therefore, if this a 19th Century doll, then it is likely German, not Schoenhut.
Price: 95 USD
Location: Placentia, California
End Time: 2024-09-30T17:41:18.000Z
Shipping Cost: 8.5 USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
Restocking Fee: No
Return shipping will be paid by: Buyer
All returns accepted: Returns Accepted
Item must be returned within: 30 Days
Refund will be given as: Money Back
Brand: Unbranded
Year: Antique
Country/Region of Manufacture: Unknown
Character Family: Dapper Clown
Vintage: Yes
