(5) Vintage circa early 1900’s “Rolly Dolly’s” (Roly Poly’s) American manufacture; all original with no touch up paint or repairs. Each is individually described below. Movie available upon request.
Note: After 40 plus years of dealing and collecting toys, I am justly qualified to guarantee and present the authenticity of antique and vintage toys and children’s playthings; important considering the fakes and reproductions in the marketplace. These are from my own collection.
See my other listings of vintage toys.
1) Vintage “Happy Hooligan” “Rolly Dolly” By Schoenhut Toy Co. German, Circa 1901
Proverbial comic character toy of the era “Happy Hooligan” was recreated by the Schoenhut Toy Company at the turn of the century calling them a “Rolly Dolly” that today we call “Roly Poly’s”. You knock them over and they always “right” themselves and get upright; probably after the 17th C. Japanese “Daruma Dolls” at some level. “Happy Hooligan” was an early 1900’s popular newspaper cartoon character, portrayed as a happy go lucky hobo who endeared himself to young children. At 10″ high, this is considered one of the larger Schoenhut “Rolly Dollys”.
Made of paper mache, Albert Schoenhut, founder of Schoenhut Toy Company in 1872, developed these popular toys around 1900 through the 1920’s; the company falling victim to the depression and going out of business in 1935.
The composition nature of their manufacture caused “Rolly Dollys” to deteriorate, consequently, few complete untouched examples are extant. This example of “Happy Hooligan” is completely original with no repairs, no restoration and no repaint or touch up of any kind. There is the commonplace slight separation at the join in the neck (see images), but all in all very sound.
The body is hand painted rose moave, with yellow buttons and flesh colored hands, while the face is nicely detailed with black eyes, eyebrows, forehead, with red lips and a grey hat.
I have examined with a loop and under black light and can attest to the fact that this is one of the better condition examples you will find; with almost all of it’s paint in order; see short video to watch it “roll” as it was played with by children; welcome addition to a fine quality toy or folk art collection.
Dimensions: 10″ high x 5″ wide x 4 1/2″ deep.
2) Rare Vintage “Rolly Dolly” Musical Toy; Germany, Circa 1895
Vintage and rare “Rolly Dolly” Musical Toy by unknown German manufacturer; circa 1895; contemporaneous with early Schoenhut toys, it depicts a “Well Dressed Man With A Bow Tie” (my designated name). Much like the makers of Noah’s Arcs, making these type of toys was a cottage industry in late 19th century Germany.
Today we call these toys “Roly Poly’s”. You knock them over and they always “right” themselves and get upright; probably after the 17th C. Japanese “Daruma Dolls” at some level. I’m not sure of the actual thematic genesis of this character but aside from the excellent condition, what separates this from other similar Roly Poly’s, is the fact that there is a mechanism in the weighted base, simulating musical chimes (watch and listen to the attached video). At 9 3/4″ high, this is considered one of the larger “Rolly Dollys”. I have not seen this example before, so it could be the only one extant.
The composition nature of their manufacture caused “Rolly Dollys” to deteriorate, consequently, few complete untouched examples exist. This example of “The Well Dressed Man With a Bow Tie” is completely original with no repairs, no restoration and no repaint or touch up of any kind.
The rotund body is brightly hand painted in a multiplicity of colors; red and yellow vest with pale blue buttons on a grey background; green vest; blue round base; red hair; detailed blue eyes with black high lights; black hat and oddly enough the ORIGINAL linen bow tie still intact. Black hat lacking some paint but overall there is 96% plus paint all around overall. Highly unusual considering the nature of playing with the toy.
I have examined with a loop and under black light and can attest to the fact that this is one of the better condition examples you will find; with almost all of it’s paint in order; see short video to watch it “roll” and bells chiming away, as it was played with by children.
Wonderful, unique and attractive colorful rare piece to add to your collection of toys and/or folk art
Dimensions: 10″ high x 5″ wide x 5″ deep.
3) Vintage “Dapper Clown” Roly Poly Toy; Scarce. Germany Circa 1915
Vintage hard to find “Rolly Dolly” Toy; unknown German maker, circa 1915; I have named “Dapper Clown”; this is one of the more rare “Rolly Dolly’s” (really rare in this condition). Today we call these toys “Roly Poly’s”. You knock them over and they always “right” themselves and get upright; probably after the 17th C. Japanese “Daruma Dolls” at some level.
I’m not sure of the actual thematic genesis of this character, but the excellent condition, very simply, separates this from any other similar Roly Poly’s, Watch the attached video to see how it was played with to better appreciate the condition. 8″ high puts it in the “taller” category for this toy.
Made of paper mache, makers of these roly poly’s were produced quite prolifically by the same type of German cottage industry that produced Noah’s Arc toys.
The composition nature of their manufacture caused “Rolly Dollys” to deteriorate, consequently, few complete untouched examples are extant. This example of “Dapper Clown” is completely original with no repairs, no restoration and no repaint or touch up of any kind.
The rotund body and full face of the toy is in 99% of its original brightly hand painted colors; look at the face (ridiculous complete condition!) yellow cheeks, green chin, red lips, blue eyes with black highlights and eyebrows; all on a white backdrop. A red hat with a black band, and a black simulated bow tie with a lovely blue vest, and a yellow rounded base, completes the coloring. There is even an ever so slight remnant of a feather in his hat which is still intact. Highly unusual to have this much original paint considering the nature of playing with the toy (see images).
I have examined with a loop and under black light and can attest to the fact that this is one of the top condition examples you will find of this “Rolly Dolly” with almost all of it’s paint in order.
Wonderful, unique and attractive colorful rare piece to add to your collection of toys and/or folk art
Dimensions: 8″ high x 4 1/2″ wide x 4 1/2″ deep.
4) Vintage “Rolly Dolly” Musical Toy “BoBo The Clown”. German, Circa 1927
Vintage hard to find “Rolly Dolly” Musical Toy, of German manufacture, circa 1927; depicts a clown by the nickname of “BoBo”; named after a famous clown during that period —-BoBo Barnett, born 1903 who worked for the Clyde Beatty Circus and was eventually inducted into the International Clown Hall of Fame. This is one of the more rare “Rolly Dolly’s you will come across—I have not seen it before.
Today we call these toys “Roly Poly’s”. You knock them over and they always “right” themselves and get upright; probably after the 17th C. Japanese “Daruma Dolls” at some level. The fact that there is a mechanism in the weighted base, simulating musical chimes (watch and listen to the), separates this example from non musical Rolly Dollys.
Made of paper mache, makers of these roly poly’s were produced quite prolifically by the same type of German cottage industry that produced Noah’s Arc toys.
The composition nature of their manufacture caused “Rolly Dollys” to deteriorate over time and with harsh play, consequently, few complete untouched examples are extant. This example of “BoBo”” is completely original with no repairs, no restoration and no repaint or touch up of any kind. It is in about 95% original paint with slight losses and separation on his left and right side seam albeit very sturdy and sound (see images).
The clown is hand painted in a multiplicity of colors; red jacket with a yellow vest and black buttons and bow tie; red and black accents to the face and hat on a white face; and printed on the back in black lettering the name “BoBo” (see image).
I have examined with a loop and under black light and can attest to the fact that this is one of the better condition examples you will find; with almost all of it’s paint in order.
Wonderful, unique and attractive colorful rare piece to add to your collection of toys and/or folk art
Dimensions: 5 1/2″ high x 3 1/2″ wide x 3 1/4″ deep.
5) Vintage “Rolly Dolly” Clown Toy Attributed Schoenhut Company, Germany Circa 1920
Vintage “Rolly Dolly” Clown Toy possibly by The Schoenhut Toy Company, Germany, circa 1920; capitalizing on the popularity of the circus clown during that time period.
Today we call these toys “Roly Poly’s”. You knock them over and they always “right” themselves and get upright; probably after the 17th C. Japanese “Daruma Dolls” at some level (View attached video to see toy in action).
Made of paper mache, Albert Schoenhut, founder of Schoenhut Toy Company in 1872, developed these popular toys around 1900 through the 1920’s; the company falling victim to the depression and going out of business in 1935.
The composition nature of their manufacture caused “Rolly Dollys” to deteriorate over time and with harsh play, consequently, few complete untouched examples are extant. This example is completely original with no repairs, no restoration and no repaint or touch up of any kind. It is in completely original paint with some losses to the bottom green “round about” section at the bottom (see image).
The clown is hand painted in several colors; yellow jacket with black buttons and a blue collar; yellow hair, a red cap and green ears. Red lips, blue eyes and black highlights on a white face completes the color scheme (see images).
I have examined with a loop and under black light and can attest to the fact that this is a fine original, better condition example, with most of it’s paint in order.
Dimensions: 4″ high x 2 1/2″ wide x 2 1/2″ deep.