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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Andy Yaffee
Two-part head
The two-part head lion tamer was made with un-jointed arms, a dark
blue coat with gold appliqué, a red fez with gold appliqué, black boats,
and white shirt and pants. His head was made similar to those of the
Teddy Roosevelt personnel and the band. They are found both with, and
without a goatee.
Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Andy Yaffee
Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Andy Yaffee
Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Andy Yaffee
This early head lion tamer sports an unusual hat that has a gold braid
rim.
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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Sneed
Bisque head, goatee, gold appliqué
The early bisque head lion tamer was made with
straight arms, a blue coat with gold appliqué, a red felt fez with a
string tassel and gold appliqué, a white shirt, white bow tie, black
boots, and white pants. Later, jointed arms were added. This example came from a collection bought in
about 1910.
Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Sneed
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Bisque head, felt braiding
At some point, the gold appliqué was abandoned in
favor of cut yellow felt on both the hat and the coat. This example's head does not have a goatee.
Possibly an acrobat's head was used because they ran out of lion tamer
heads. Notice that the arms are jointed at the elbow.
Photo by Judith Lile
Photo by Judith Lile
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Photo by Judith Lile
One-part head
Finally, the bisque head was replaced with the one-part head. This
probably occurred
in about 1918 or shortly thereafter when the supply of bisque heads from Europe dried up
during WWI.
Photo by Judith Lile
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Catalog illustration
The lion tamer is illustrated in the Copyright 1928
catalog.
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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Vicki and Mike
Smith
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