German Paper Mache St. Nicholas on a Donkey with Mechanical Movement

Live Auction

22" (56 cm.) h. 20" l. Seated upon a paper mache donkey with flocked-flannel finish, brown glass eyes, and nodding hinged head, and with attached harness and flannel blanket is St. Nicholas with paper mache head, painted features, white fur beard and moustache, and with paper mache carton torso, black boots, and hands, classic red flannel hooded jacket, blue flannel pants, his left hand holding the donkey reins, and his right arm holding a feather tree. The donkey and St. Nicholas are posed on a wooden platform, and when wound, the donkey's head nods up and down, up and down. Condition: generally excellent, some repair to head under the hood. Comments: Germany, circa 1890. Value Points: wonderful grand-sized holiday presentation with mechanical movement.