German Mechanical Musical Toy "The Juggling Performers" by Zinner & Sohne

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13" (33 cm.) h. 12" x 10" base. Standing upon a wooden platform are two paper mache performers with brown glass eyes, sculpted brows, and very thick curled-tip moustaches and goatees, wooden block torso, wire upper arms and legs, wooden hands and feet, wearing gold silk performer costumes and caps; each is holding gold juggling balls in hands and balancing one on left foot. When wound, music plays, and the performers alternately raise up and then bend forward, appearing to juggle the balls, while each left foot lowers and raises. Condition: generally excellent, music and movement function well, costumes original albeit a bit frail. Comments: Zinner and Sohne, circa 1895. Value Points: delightful movements are enhanced by unusual modeling of faces including moustache. Private Collection of Marianne Cieslik.