This very old Black Americana tin toy is pretty distressed, which makes it all the more beautiful to me. I have found a few versions, of both black and white figures, pushing wheelbarrows; the closest I've found (and which I'd guess this in fact is) was made by Ferdinand Strauss, NYC, c. 1910s, with a wind-up key on the side of the wheelbarrow which would make it move. That key is long gone, as are the wheels on the wheelbarrow, and the cap on his head, and the color on what I think was once a blue coat--and now he needs to lean or have something placed under the wheelbarrow in order to stand up. But what a striking--and rather haunting I think--object in its pared down state, with only the yellow of the pants, wheelbarrow interior, and eyes remaining.
5 1/2" long x 5 3/4" tall x 2 1/4" wide.
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