The Frank Rider Collection - Spring Classic Part 1 - Day 2
Lot 1399:
Description
These charming early 20th-century folk art marionettes, likely dating to the 1920s or 1930s, are accessories for a “dancing” phonograph system—designed to be animated by the rotation of a Victrola turntable. Constructed from hand-painted wood with articulated limbs and wire control rods, these figures feature vibrant, folk-art-style suits and yellow hats. Notably, the construction of the arms varies; one figure utilizes a thinner flat wood or card stock material, while the other features thicker, more robust wooden limbs, suggesting either a mix-and-match set from production variations or an early period repair. The set includes the weathered original cardboard box, which is present but missing its lid. Regarding condition, the figures show expected vintage wear consistent with their age, including paint loss, fading, and scuffs; one figure has a broken knee joint, though the lower leg segment is present and considered a straightforward repair. H 5.5″, W 3.75″, D 2.25″. Please see photos for condition.
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