Rare Toy Theatre by Adolf Engel, circa 1880
A Rare Toy Theatre by Adolf Engel, Berlin, circa 1880
the lithographed proscenium mounted on wood, and hand-coloured, with an elaborate neo-Grecian design to the front, mounted Sphinxes to the top, painted stage, six reversible side drops and reversible backdrop, red cloth curtain (operated by a cord), tin footlights and 12 lithographed characters from the operetta, 'Die Canarienprinzessein', by Charles Lecocq, mounted on wooden bases and operated by vertical wire slides.
Height: 50cm
Width: 43cm
Depth: 39cm
Reference: Peter Baldwin. 'Toy Theatres of the World', Zwemmer 1992, pp. 80- 82 for very similar toy theatres by Adolf Engel of Berlin.
Stock Reference: LH 1937
International Buyers outside the UK: Please contact me for a shipping quote before purchase. Thank you.
Condition
Remarkably good condition for an antique toy theatre. A bit of scuffing, especially to the Sphinxes, rubbing, wear and a few splits to the stage. The red cloth curtain is operated by a cord, tied to a pin on the side of the proscenium.
Five of the characters with repaired tears.
A Note From Luke
Magnificent toy theatre by Adolf Engel. "Berlin continued to be a centre for paper theatre publishing throughout the nineteenth century. Amongst the better known were L. Steffan (1830), Carl Hellriegel (c. 1840), F. Guillaume (1840), E. Buttner (c. 1860) and Adolf Engel (c. 1880). Engle produced a number of elaborate stage s during the 1880s very often with statues installed in niches on either side of the proscenium arch. Similarly, pediments would contain certain imposing scenes from classical mythology.." (From Peter Baldwin's "Toy Theatres of the World, pp. 81-82).
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