American Tin Platform Horse Toy Attributed to Althof, Bergmann & Co., circa 1874

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American Tin Platform Horse Toy Attributed to Althof, Bergmann & Co., circa 1874

About the Item

Toys of this nature would have been made for children to drag around the floor by a string (note the small hole in front of the platform), or pushed along and played with on the floor. This American tin platform horse pull toy (also referred to as a floor toy), is in all original paint and condition save for a very minor solder repair where two of the hoofs meet the platform. It is almost a miracle that it has survived at all due to it's fragility and rough play it likely encountered. It is hand-painted in brown to the horse with an orange saddle and a red band below, with a green hand-painted platform. Note some of the gold stenciling still present to both sides of the upper front body of the horse. No primer was used so the paint, typically did not last very long, especially after a few years of being played with; definitely not expected to last for over 140 years! Toys of this age and rarity are almost always repainted, so when one is found in it's original condition it is usually in a collection. The pinnacle of the American tin toy manufacture was from 1865 through 1890. Very few have maker's marks and only a few "jobber's" catalogues are extant, but this tin toy is most certainly from the premier toy makers and inventors, Althof Bergmann and Company of New York City, New York which was formed in 1867. The unique fancy, original, heart shaped wheels, the flat green platform with a single edge perimeter fold, the style of the horse and the way it is attached to the base, are all indigenous to Althof Bergmann manufacture. The detail in the raised saddle and the molded mane of the horse and the attention to detail throughout are all indicative of this fine toy maker. It should also be noted that at 14" long this is the larger size of the floor toys made by this manufacturer. The horse as a subject matter, not only in weathervanes at the time, but also in toys for children, was quite ubiquitous, due in part to the fact that the majority of Americans lived in a rural environment where horses were part of every day life, coupled with the popularity of the sport of harness racing (this is depicted in many Currier and Ive's prints). This charming American tin child's toy would be a welcome addition to any collection of Americana, Folk Art or antique toys. Dimensions: 14" long x 11 1/2" high x 5 1/4" wide.

Attributed to:
Althof Bergmann and Co. (Manufacturer)
Dimensions:
Height: 11.5 in (29.21 cm)Width: 5.25 in (13.34 cm)Depth: 14 in (35.56 cm)
Style:
Folk Art (Of the Period)
Materials and Techniques:
Tin,Hand-Painted
Place of Origin:
United States
Period:
1870-1879
Date of Manufacture:
circa 1874
Condition:
Wear consistent with age and use. See description.
Seller Location:
Incline Village, NV
Reference Number:
1stDibs: LU97324922583

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