2 Horses and Circus Trainer Humpty Dumpty. Albert Schoenhut.

USA.

Wood, painted. H 19–21 cm.

Circus trainer and 2 brown horses with movable heads and limbs, plus a round pedestal. Signs of age, paint defects, 1 horse head glued back on, 1 saddle and bridle added later.

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, acrobats, a ringmaster, 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.