Sold: Folk Art Canoeist

Wonderful antique folk art mechanical carved wooden canoeist toy, Michigan, c. 1920. The paddling figure is hand-carved and painted wood, with inset clockwork mechanism enclosed with tin sides. The interior mechanism moves the figure’s right arm up and down, pushing the tin blade of the paddle into the water and propelling the canoe forward. (The mechanism is overwound —probably an easy repair should the buyer with to take him for a paddle.) The canoeist sports an iconic turn of the century bathing costume on his lakeside adventure. The fellow was meant to sit in the canoe, which is carved from a single piece of wood and painted green. Each has a great weathered surface with evidence of many years of paddling (the paddle-side of the canoe shows surface wear from the mechanical dipping). The ingenious handmade toy is among my favorite folk art finds, and deserves a good home in a rustic vintage lake house or toy collection.

Condition

Good antique condition, clockwork mechanism nonworking, general paintloss and wear from play in the water, and a unnoticeable glue repair on the canoeist’s legs.

Measurements

24 inches long

5 inches wide

Paddler Figure

6 inches tall

6.5 inches long

4.5 inches wide

Shipping

Free in the continental United States. If an international buyer, please contact me for a shipping estimate by clicking here.