Not currently on display at the V&A

Toy Cart

ca. 1915 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

This wooden lamb cart was made by Eisenmann and has the Einco series label on the cart. The company is now known as Chiltern Toys, though until it was registered in 1924, it was known as Eisenmann & Co. and traded under the name Einco. Founded by Josef and Gabriel Eisenmann. Gabriel was based in Germany and Josef in London and it was Josef who founded the Chiltern Toy Works in Buckinghamshire in 1908.

Today, Chiltern is most famous for its teddy bears although it produced its first bear in 1915. Up until then it mainly produced wooden toys, like this one, and fabric dolls with wooden heads.


Object details

Categories
Object type
Materials and techniques
Wood and metal
Brief description
Toy cart, wood and metal, with a lamb, made by Eisenmann & co, Germany, ca. 1915.
Physical description
A lamb and cart combination with two prongs of the cart attached to the lamb by a metal pole. The cart is blue with red metal wheels, one of which is missing. The lamb is cream with details for its ears painted on in pink and eyes, nose and feet painted on in black. It is painted the same either side. The paintwork is peeling off slightly, particularly around the back of the cart and the back wheels.
Dimensions
  • Height: 12.5cm
  • Width: 19.1cm
Production typeMass produced
Marks and inscriptions
'Einco series' (Manufacturers mark)
Object history
This soft toy is from Daniel Agnew's collection. He is best known for running Christie's famous Teddy Bear auctions from 2000 to 2007, but his passion for Teddy Bears and all toys goes back much further than that. His mother is a well-respected antique dealer known throughout Britain. As a child he was fascinated with the bits and pieces that she bought home from her various buying trips. Daniel started to attend auctions and shows with her at the weekends and as a child of 9 or 10, what caught his eye most were the toys.
Summary
This wooden lamb cart was made by Eisenmann and has the Einco series label on the cart. The company is now known as Chiltern Toys, though until it was registered in 1924, it was known as Eisenmann & Co. and traded under the name Einco. Founded by Josef and Gabriel Eisenmann. Gabriel was based in Germany and Josef in London and it was Josef who founded the Chiltern Toy Works in Buckinghamshire in 1908.

Today, Chiltern is most famous for its teddy bears although it produced its first bear in 1915. Up until then it mainly produced wooden toys, like this one, and fabric dolls with wooden heads.
Collection
Accession number
B.136-2010

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Record createdJuly 27, 2010
Record URL
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