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CLOCKWORK ACTION TOY, BOYS ON A SEESAW, WITH A PERIOD, HANDWRITTEN NOTE, ca 1870-80 |
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| Dimensions (inches): |
14.5" tall x 13.75" wide x 4.75" deep |
| Description: |
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Clockwork action toy featuring boys in some manner of military uniforms on a make-do log seesaw. The comb-grained, paint-decorated case has a canted top and sides and a windowed, glass door. The toy is in working condition and wonderful to watch.
The works and a hand-written note are underneath the viewable diorama. Probably English, made circa 1870-80. A paper note inside reads:
The Tetter Totter.
of [by] Gay:-
Across the fallen oak the plank I laid.
And myself poised against the tottering maid.
High leaped the plank, a down Buxama fell.
John Gay (1685-1732) was an English poet and dramatist. This work was among his first published, in 1720. It seems to have been published again quite extensively in the last quarter of the 19th century, when this toy was made.
Condition: The original glass was broken. It has been carefully replaced with a great, early piece of bubbled glass dating to roughly the same period. Hinge replaced. |
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| Primary Color: |
brown |
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| Earliest Date: |
1870 |
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| Latest Date: |
1890 |
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| For Sale Status: |
Available |
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| Price |
$3,500 |
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| E-mail: |
info@jeffbridgman.com |
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Page Views:... 6341 |
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