Antique Felix the Cat 8" Schoenhut Jointed Wooden Toy, Early 1920s, Cartoon Icon

Description: This marvelous Felix the Cat toy is officially an antique this year! It has articulated wooden limbs and tail, the head and body I believe, after doing some research, are composite, and the ears are leather. Manufactured by the Schoenhut Company, it is marked on the bottom of one foot "FELIX," "COPYRIGHT-1922-1924 BY PAT. SULLIVAN," and "PAT. APPLIED FOR". The piece is in very good pre-owned condition. Areas of wear are consistent with its age of 100 years. The paint on the wooden parts, the limbs, feet and tail, has held up exceptionally well. There are some areas on the composite head and torso where there is some paint loss. I have shown these areas in my photos. Fortunately the paint on the iconic face is in good shape! There are two spots on the nose where the cream-colored undercoat shows through, but they kind of look like nostrils! The worst area of paint loss is on the back of the head. It is smooth; the paint is worn away, not chipped away. The name "FELIX" on his chest is in great shape. The original leather ears are still intact, but they are stiffened with age and are worn, especially around the edges. Felix's left ear is folded down, as shown in some of my photos, and becausethe old leather is stiff, I think it would be a mistake to try to reposition it. The cords that connect the legs, head and tail to the torso have become a little slack, so Felix can sit up, but he can't stand. These could probably be tightened up. No restoration work has been done on the piece. Felix is 8 inches tall, and he weighs 7.95 oz. The A. Schoenhut Company was founded in 1872 in Philadelphia by Albert Schoenhut, a woodcarver and German immigrant who had begun making toy pianos before leaving Germany. Once in America, he began also making wooden dolls and other wooden toys. Schoenhut passed away in 1912, but by then he had built his business with into the largest toy company in the United States. The company remained in business until 1935, when the Great Depression was at its height. It was reopened a year later by another Schoenhut, and after that only produced toy pianos. Felix the Cat first appeared in a cartoon short "Feline Follies" in 1919, as "Master Tom". He was the creation of Australian animator Pat Sullivan and artist Otto Messmer. Felix the Cat was the first licensed and mass-merchandised cartoon character! He was a worldwide phenomenon and was a model for Walt Disney's studio. By the end of the 1920s, over 200 Felix the Cat shorts had been made!

Price: 400 USD

Location: Winter Park, Florida

End Time: 2024-11-22T01:46:01.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD