Paper Mache Dancing Dolls

Live Auction

7" (18 cm). Two dolls are standing with hinged arms outstretched and clasping the others; when string is pulled they dance, arms and legs hinge and move freely. Each has paper mache head with painted hair and facial features, paper mache torso, flat-wooden arms and legs with painted costumes. Condition: generally excellent, few small paint rubs. Comments: circa 1885. Value Points: the rare folk art style toy features a black man with smiling expression, wearing red pants, and a red-capped acrobat with colorfully striped uniform.