Balky Mule
Donkey Cart
ca. 1900 (manufactured)
ca. 1900 (manufactured)
Artist/Maker | |
Place of origin |
Clown seated on a cart, painted gold and cream, with two large side wheels and one small front wheel. Large wheels are lithographed to show clown acrobats and some of the marks. Back of carts show some marks and dancing clown. The clown has a tin head, shoulders, arms and legs, and pointed ruff collar. The body is dark yellow cotton over a crank shaft which stretches and compresses to give an oscillating motion. The donkey is of tin covered with dark grey flock and has four movable legs and is supported by the cart shafts. The reins pass from its mouth to the clown's hands. When wound up, the wheels turn, the clown moves pulling on the donkey. The mule is operated by a simple clockwork mechanism.
Object details
Categories | |
Object type | |
Title | Balky Mule (manufacturer's title) |
Materials and techniques | Painted metal and fabric |
Brief description | Metal clockwork toy "Balky Mule" made by Ernst Paul Lehmann in about 1900 |
Physical description | Clown seated on a cart, painted gold and cream, with two large side wheels and one small front wheel. Large wheels are lithographed to show clown acrobats and some of the marks. Back of carts show some marks and dancing clown. The clown has a tin head, shoulders, arms and legs, and pointed ruff collar. The body is dark yellow cotton over a crank shaft which stretches and compresses to give an oscillating motion. The donkey is of tin covered with dark grey flock and has four movable legs and is supported by the cart shafts. The reins pass from its mouth to the clown's hands. When wound up, the wheels turn, the clown moves pulling on the donkey. The mule is operated by a simple clockwork mechanism. |
Dimensions |
|
Production type | Mass produced |
Copy number | 425 |
Marks and inscriptions | on back of cart Lehmann logo appears, followed by
Lehmann Germany BILD GES.GESCH.
Engl. Patent Made in Germany
D.R.Patent BILD. GESCH.
and an illustration of a dancing clown |
Subject depicted | |
Collection | |
Accession number | MISC.330-1984 |
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Record created | February 13, 2004 |
Record URL |
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