Hippopotamus

The Schoenhut 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 parade.
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. Keller Style I - Very Scarce Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Sneed	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. Keller Style II - Very Scarce Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer
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. Keller Style III - Scarce	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
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.	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