Not currently on display at the V&A

Charlie Chaplin

Character Toy
1920s (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Charlie Chaplin was one of the most popular charater toys in the 1920s. This toy is one of the best known examples made by a German company Schreyer & Co, which later adopted the tradename Schuco. When he is wound up and set off he shuffles forwards and twirls his cane.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 4 parts.

  • Mechanical Toy
  • Box
  • Box
  • Key
TitleCharlie Chaplin (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Painted metal, fabric and card
Brief description
Clockwork toy figure of Charlie Chaplin made in Germany about 1930
Physical description
A mechanical Charlie Chaplin containing a clockwork mechanism in the body. The facial features are painted and the figure has black cotton hair. He is dressed in felt clothes, black jacket, grey trousers, red and white tie, white shirt and white cotton collar. With the figure is the original brown cardboard box mottled in black with a pictorial label on the front of the box. When wound up, the figure vibrates, swings his cane which is in his right hand.
Dimensions
  • Height: 16cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
'B/1454/1 / CHARLIE' (on small label on box)
Production
Comapny name Schreyer & co, no mark appers on box, later adopted tradename schuco. Ref found in Jack Tempests book, Collecting Tin Toys, page 84
Subject depicted
Summary
Charlie Chaplin was one of the most popular charater toys in the 1920s. This toy is one of the best known examples made by a German company Schreyer & Co, which later adopted the tradename Schuco. When he is wound up and set off he shuffles forwards and twirls his cane.
Collection
Accession number
MISC.23:1 to 4-1977

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Record createdFebruary 10, 2004
Record URL
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