English Wooden CasedSand Toy, "Blondin, the World's Greatest Acrobat"

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10" (25 cm.) x 8". The wooden-cased sand toy features a lithographed scene of stage and audience, set back under glass, while in front of the scene is a figure of a man, articulated at shoulders and hips, balanced on a hidden metal rod. When the case is turned around twice, the funneling of the hidden sand supply allows the man to rapidly twist and turn. Excellent condition. The toy is labeled "Blondin, The World's Greatest Acrobat", in deference to Jean-Francois Gravelet (1824-1897) known as The Great Blondin, whose was known during his lifetime as the most famous tightrope dancer in the world including crossing the Niagara Gorge. English, attributed to Brown, Blondin & Co, 1860s who also produced a similar sand toy of the "Leotard Acrobat".