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Lions

by Judith Lile and Jim Sneed

The Schoenhut Lions
 There are at least seven designs for Humpty Dumpty circus lions. Four have glass eyes and three have painted eyes. Lions were first produced in 1906.


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Andy Yaffee

Open mouth, glass eyes, cloth mane

The first lion design, introduced in 1906, is characterized mainly by his furry cloth mane. He was made with glass eyes, a cord tail, leather ears, and an open mouth with painted teeth. This lion features a carved area on both sides of his tail simulating muscles, I suppose. This feature does not appear on any other lion bodies.  Underneath the mane is a full ball joint but the mohair mane inhibits articulation of the head.  This design is shown in some Teddy Roosevelt ads.
Keller Style I - Scarce


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Norman Cole

Body color shades can vary from medium to dark brown. This one was painted with a buffalo color.


Photo by Judith Lile

Carved head, Glass eyes, leather ears, round mane

This lion design may have been the second produced. This is probably the rarest lion. He has leather ears, a simple round mane design, and a cord tail. Very Rare


Photo by Judith Lile

 


Photo Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner

Carved head, glass eyes, leather ears, carved mane

The second lion design was probably introduced with the company's Teddy Roosevelt set in 1909. This design is shown in some Teddy Roosevelt ads. Its mane was made with hand guided machine-tools. The regular striations from this work is evident on the shoulder and head. Some examples have hand carved lines in the head striations to suggest a flowing mane.  A cord tail, glass eyes, and leather ears also characterize this rare and charming style.
Keller Style II - Rare


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner


Photo courtesy of Fred Keller

Notice the difference in size between these two carved-head lion designs.


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner

Carved head, glass eyes, carved ears, carved mane

Next, Schoenhut changed the head and shoulder to a more life-like design. The machine striations of the second design were eliminated in favor of deeply carved lines in the mane. The ears were also carved. Both cord and twisted twine tails have been seen. Since these lions has a lot of hand-work, a lot of variation is evident from sample to sample. This is a rare and desirable lion style. Keller Style III - Rare


Photo by Jim Sneed form the collection of Jim Sneed


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner

Painted eyes

All painted eyes, regular size lions have slightly open mouths. Manes are painted either a light or dark brown.
Keller Style I - Scarce


Photo by Judith Lile

 


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Sneed

In the late 1920s, Schoenhut produced a few of their most popular animals and actors with colorful boxes. They must not have produced them for long as these are scarce today. We have found boxes for the DE Bear, DE White Horse, PE Lion (shown above), Ringmaster and the Hobo. Certainly others were boxed.


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner

Reduced size, closed mouth

The reduced size lion began its life in the 1920s. It came in two forms - the closed mouth version shown here and the open mouth version. Manes can be light or dark brown.


Photo courtesy of Bertoia Auctions.


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Deborah Wesler
 

(Need photo)

Reduced size, open mouth