4 Animals Humpty Dumpty. Albert Schoenhut.

USA.

Wood, painted. H 14–19 cm.

Elephant, bison, dromedary, and zebra. All with movable heads and limbs. With retouching; the elephant’s trunk has a break.

The Humpty Dumpty Circus was introduced in 1903 by Albert Schoenhut in Philadelphia. The circus figures and animals, made of painted wood, have movable limbs connected by elastic cords, allowing them to be posed in numerous acrobatic positions. The initially small assortment was expanded to include clowns, performers, a circus director, animals, and a wide range of accessories. By 1912, the series already included 29 different figures and 37 animals. The Humpty Dumpty Circus became one of Schoenhut’s best-known toys and was also distributed internationally.