Located in Incline Village, NV
One of a kind, fine quality antique toy, "Dancing Couples" is of French manufacture, it is marked in raised lettering "A.L. Paris" at the top of the base. It is also very similar to several French toys noted in "Antique Toys" by Jeffrey Levitt, and the young lady's face is almost identical to the bisque face on a French toy referenced on page 209 plate #372.
This outstanding toy consists of two figures, a young man resembling Napoleon Bonaparte, and a young lady, dressed in period clothes with bisque (porcelain) faces and heads and wooden legs. The base is some type of metal composite consisting of a cast lead alloy. The polychromed hand painted blue and red metal dance floor is also a lead alloy. The wire stands supporting the figures is of ferrous metal.
The bisque faces are very lifelike with flesh tones and blue eyes, rosy cheeks to the lady with bisque auburn hair. He is dressed in original period Napoleon type military clothes...
Category
1880s American Victorian Antique Wool Toys