Unique jointed wooden folk art toy measuring 14" ( 35cm ) representing a black dancer, sometimes referred to in their time as a " jigger". Although certainly not politically correct by today's standards there are various types of other toys and figures in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries with packing cartons often called " Jolly Jigger " or of similar nomenclature. The figure has a black painted head and torso with carved features and intaglio eyes and there are joints at the shoulders, elbows, hips, knees, and ankles allowing for significant and rapid movement when the toy is shaken or moved. Attached to the back of the torso is a curved wooden handle made of polished wood measuring about 11" ( 28cm ) long. Although not a traditional puppet or marionette, the extension could have possibly served to although the handler to hide behind a screen or cloth as one would when giving a puppet show. The well detailed figure is clothed in period sewn-on fabrics and the cap is glued over top of the cone shaped wooden head of the man. An unusual and lovely piece for the collector of " folky " items! US$ 1,475.

Very appealing unmarked German composition shoulder head girl with molded and painted features and lovely molded curly hair with wonderful original paint finish . The body is stuffed cloth with wooden arms that attach to the cloth body just above the elbows and has heavy composition lower legs with blushed knees in the style of American composition dolls of this late 1920-early 1930's era but made with but more sturdy and durable materials which do not tend to craze or split as they do on the contemporary American dolls. She is dressed in a linen blouse , cotton print forest green dress with pink roses , knit cotton stockings, and nice oilcloth toddler shoes with pompoms. A very nice doll in excellent condition from an unknown but quality doll maker. US$ 295.