Superb Gunthermann Jack Sprat Dancers Tin Windup

Circa 1890-1920: This 7" tall hand painted tin windup toy from the German firm Gunthermann portrays famed nursery rhyme couple Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sprat: "Jack Sprat could eat no fat, / His wife could eat no lean. / And so between them both, you see, / They licked the platter clean." The rhyme reaches back at least to the mid 17th century, and it has been suggested that this rhyme is a satiric representation of King Charles I and Queen Henrietta Maria. This charming tin windup is in Pristine condition for hand painted tin and only has minor sporadic paint chipping and expected age related paint crazing. The toy is marked Germany on the bottom, which means it was made no earlier than 1890 and no later than 1921. The windup mechanism is in working order, and the colors remain vibrant. This fine Gunthermann is hard to find in any condition, and one would have to look long and hard to find a nicer example. The toy comes from the storied Schroeder collection and has been in our personal collection for several years, and we are just now getting around to putting it on the open market.