Clockwork Toy thumbnail 1
Not currently on display at the V&A

Clockwork Toy

1930-1939 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This doll was made in Japan in the 1930s. It's body is made from tin and contains a mechanism that makes the doll crawl when a key is turned. It is thought that the tin body would have been originally covered with fabric clothing.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Cellulose acetate, pressed tin
Brief description
crawling doll, Celluloid & metal, Japanese, 1930-1939
Physical description
The doll is in a crawling position with moulded celluloid arms, legs and head. It has painted eyes and lips, and moulded strands of hair. It has a tin oval shaped boy encasing a clockwork mechanism. A key on the underside of the body activates the mechanism making the doll crawl in a realistic manner.
Originally, it is likely that there would have been fabric covering the tin body.
Dimensions
  • Length: 8.2cm
  • Height: 7.6cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
  • Patent 219991 (On back of head)
  • MADE IN JAPAN (On right leg)
  • JAPAN (On left leg)
  • (Japanese writing on tin body also)
Credit line
Given by Miss Doris Woollen
Object history
Donated to the museum by Miss Doris Woollen
Summary
This doll was made in Japan in the 1930s. It's body is made from tin and contains a mechanism that makes the doll crawl when a key is turned. It is thought that the tin body would have been originally covered with fabric clothing.
Other number
219991 - patent number
Collection
Accession number
MISC.492-1986

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Record createdJuly 1, 2009
Record URL
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