Paper toy
Category
Toys
Date
circa 1850
Materials
Paper, card and wood
Measurements
Each costume piece (min) - 27 mm (height), Each costume piece (max) - 145 mm (height), Lid - 143 mm (width); 235 mm (height); 25 mm (depth)
Place of origin
Germany
Order this imageCollection
Sudbury Hall Museum of Childhood, Derbyshire
NT 670709
Summary
A colour printed paper toy waiter in disguise. The set has 1296 variations in costume using interchangeable heads, hats, legs and torsos. The legs all slot into wooden stands. The pieces displayed are four pairs of legs: one wearing yellow breeches, one wearing blue striped breeches, one black breeches and one black trousers with a red stripe down the side. There are four heads: one with grey hair, one with black, one with large eyes and one with a dog's head. There is a black hat. There are four torsos: one carrying a beer glass and bottle, one playing the violin, one holding a tray with a vase of flowers and one holding a glass and a cane with a duck's head at the end. The lid of the box is decorated with a colour printed illustration of a waiter holding a tray with a vase of flowers surrounded by exotic birds in foliage. Above the waiter is written 'The Waiter In Disguise, variet 1296 times. Le Garcon Masquee, en 1296 variations'. Beneath the waiter it reads - 'Der, maskirte Kellner, in 1296 Veranderungen, No. 269'. Total number of items is 14.