Lot 942 : A RARE STAMPED-TIN "HARWOOD-PATENT" HORSE TOY, MERRIAM MANUFACTURING COMPANY, DURHAM, CONNECTICUT
Sotheby's - New York - 20 January 2005
Description:
circa 1875
Dimensions:
height 8in. by 8 1/4 in. 20.32cm by 21.04cm
Provenance:
Louis Hertz
Bernard Barenholtz
Alexander Acevedo, New York
A New England collector
Don Walters and Mary Benisek, Northampton, Massachusetts
Published:
Louis Hertz, The Toy Collectors, Funk & Wagnalls, New York, 1969, p. 47
Notes:
With its sensitive and fluid design, elemental purity of form and artistic illusion of kinetic movement, this horse toy transcends the world of simple playthings, and becomes instead a small but powerful sculpture.
Bernard Barenholtz, in his book American Antique Toys, called this particular plaything "the most graceful of all American tin toys." He considered it the highlight of his collection, and displayed on his coffee table.
An example belonging to the late Bill Holland appears on page 104 of Barenholtz' book.
