Rare Early Toy

Live Auction

14" (36 cm.) l. 12"h. A wooden cart with original red and green paint decorated with gold stencil striping,supports a wooden trunk that opens at the back for storage below a woven curved seat back,and has three metal spoked wheels. A bisque-head boy with sculpted black hair and painted features is seated on the cart,wearing original velvet and woolen costume,his wooden hands attached to wooden paddles; when the toy is pulled along,the boy moves his arms forward and backward as though hand-pedaling the cart. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: circa 1865,maker unknown,although the head is identical to marked models by Gaultier. Value Points: charming early toy in well-preserved original condition.