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National Gallery of Art - THE COLLECTION
image of Mechanical Toy
Mechanical Toy
Rendered by Isidore Danziger
watercolor and graphite on paper
overall: 36.5 x 28.8 cm (14 3/8 x 11 5/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 9 3/4" high
Index of American Design
1943.8.15665
From the Tour: Toys from the Index of American Design
Object 16 of 26

This hollow, articulated, or jointed, figure of a boy illustrates the rather complicated animation that could be produced with spring mechanisms. The windup key is located on his left side; it is attached to a spring inside the body. As the spring releases, the arms revolve. Simultaneously, the upper part of the figure, which is articulated at the waist, moves from side to side. The combined actions of arms and body move the figure around on its feet. The figure, painted with oil colors, dates from the late nineteenth century.

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