Composition Carnival Art

Smiling papier mâché - Paper Mâché circus clown head, circa 1930s. This large wall decoration, theme circus - clown, happy clown has details in the colors...

Smaller type "portable" carnival bean toss game with three figures; a Frenchman on one end, an Asian looking gentleman on the other end, and a clown in the middle. all are wearing their period original clothing in excellent condition. The hand painted papier mâché faces are also in excellent and original hand painted condition; quite extraordinary considering they are waiting to be knocked down by a ball or a bean bag. The top canopy is hand painted blue and the thin curtain wood border is hand painted in red; there are some applied gold "stars" but most of them are missing (see image). This type of game would have been prevalent at carnivals during the turn of the century and later. The original brightly colored lithographed paper front, consists of an old lady and her black cat standing in the doorway; and two targets in place atop the painted picket fence with a garden behind. This is attached to a wood frame. This frame is also attached, in an easel like fashion, to another wood frame that folds down flat; a piece of string holds it on one side from opening all the way when it is put "in play". The French looking figure, in conjunction with the popularity of these carnival games...

Graphic hand-painted signs. Most likely from an American soap box derby race track or perhaps carnival midway ride. Presented in black wraparound metal ...

Three figures; a fish on each end and a Chinese man in the middle are waiting to be knocked down by the toss of a bean bag. This type of game would have been prevalent in carnivals d...

Four young boys are dressed up as rascals sitting on tree stumps ready to be knocked down by the throw of a ball and a direct hit. The young boys have hands clenched while one boy is holding a fish. This brightly colored late 19th century carnival game is in excellent original paint and is made of wood, with hand-painted "composition on wood" figures. The rich, predominantly green floral frame is also hand-painted on wood. Amazing to find in this original condition considering the rough play and abuse it would have gone through. I have thoroughly examined and black lighted the boy figures...

This giant papier mâché parade head was found in Kansas. Most likely used for a department store Thanksgiving or Christmas parade or Mardi Gras festivities...