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The Hippopotamus
The hippo was introduced to the Humpty Dumpty circus
in 1906. There are at least six designs - four regular size and two reduced size.
The hippo was used in the circus as a menagerie animal - sometimes in the grand entry
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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer
Glass eyes, ball neck
The earliest hippo featured a smoothly formed body
much like the early elephant. Likewise the head is smoothly formed. The
neck is a separate ball joint. The ears and tail are leather.
Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Sneed
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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer
Glass eyes, contoured body
The next glass eyes version featured a highly contoured head
and body. The neck and head were made from a single piece.
Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer
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Painted eyes, contoured body
Little was changed from the glass eyes version at left
except, of course, the eyes were now painted on the head.
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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer
Decal eyes, molded head
The last regular size style had its hand painted eyes
replaced with decals.
Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer
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Photo by Judith Lile
Reduced size, painted eyes
The reduced size hippo carries all of the features of
the regular size except the tusks. The eyes are hand painted.
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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner
Reduced size, decal eyes, molded head
In this version of the reduced size, the head appears
to be molded and the eyes are now decals.
Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner
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