Late 18th / Early 19th Georgian Articulated Toy Pull Along Dog Folk Art

A very rare late Victorian/Early Edwardian taxidermy dog, often scaled down by the best naturalist of the period. Housed in its original glazed and gil...

A charming collection of hand crafted puppets by John Carr, (William & His Turnips) depicting a scare crow, a gardener with a hoe and 12 turnips. Develope...

A rather lovely and very original 19th century dolls house. Double fronted hinged front, opening to reveal six interior sections, with remnants of period wall paper. layers of origi...

A museum quality hand painted and cut paper cobweb, also know as beehives, flower cages, or birdcages. This particular examples has a hand painted watercolour exterior with a cottage...

"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...

Late 19th century English Jig Doll A wonderful example of a late 19th century English jig doll called porkpie. A fully articulated hand carved feature. With amazing leather handcrafted boots and wearing a porkpie hat. A lovely example with wear and patination in all the right areas. Jig dolls are traditional wooden or tin-plate toys for adults or children. They are dolls with loose limbs that step dance...

Late 19th century English Folk Art Jig Doll We are proud to offer a late 19th century hand carved, painted Folk Art English jigger doll example. Jig dolls are traditional wooden or tin-plate 'toys' for adults or children. They are dolls with loose limbs that step dance...

Late 19th century articulated figure with a nicely detailed carved face, navy overalls and red-painted shirt, tie, and shoe.