Vintage "Dapper Clown" Roly Poly Toy; Scarce. Germany Circa 1915
Located in Incline Village, NV
Vintage hard to find "Rolly Dolly" Toy; unknown German maker, circa 1915; I have named "Dapper Clown"; this is one of the more rare "Rolly Dolly's" (really rare in this condition). Today we call these toys "Roly Poly's". You knock them over and they always "right" themselves and get upright; probably after the 17th C. Japanese "Daruma Dolls" at some level.
I'm not sure of the actual thematic genesis of this character, but the excellent condition, very simply, separates this from any other similar Roly Poly's, Watch the attached video to see how it was played with to better appreciate the condition. 8" high puts it in the "taller" category for this toy.
Made of paper mache, makers of these roly poly's were produced quite prolifically by the same type of German cottage industry that produced Noah...
Category
1910s German Folk Art Vintage Composition Furniture