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Pigs

by Judith Lile and Jim Sneed

  The Schoenhut Pigs
The pig was introduced in 1906 as a circus or farm animal. At least 9 distinct pig varieties were made. Regular size pigs have been found in white, flesh, flesh with black spots, and light pink. All pigs have leather ears and curled black corded wire tails. Two decal eyes regular size pigs have been found (see below). We have also just found a decal eyes reduced pig (see photo below). 

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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer

Glass eyes, ball neck

The earliest pig was made with a separate ball joint for its neck. The eyes are glass, the tail wire cord, and the ears leather. The ears were glued to the head.
Keller Style I - Very Scarce

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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer

The ears of these pigs were glued to the side of its head.

 

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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Lajla Duffy

Glass eyes, hemispherical neck

In this design, the neck was a separately made piece that was glued to the head. The seam is readily visible on this example. The ears were made to be erect but often flop with age. Keller Style II - Very Scarce

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Pigs are smart and have been used in circus acts.

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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer

Glass eyes, one-piece neck

The head and neck of this style was made from a single piece of wood. Keller Style III - Very Scarce

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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer

 

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Photo by Judith Lile

 

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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Sneed

Pigs have coiled tails made from a cloth-insulated electrical wire.

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Painted eyes, small nose

The nose was made much smaller and rounded on this variety. Also, the lower lip drops down. The shape of the mouth is narrow. Compare to the broad-nose pig. This nose was probably the result of overly enthusiastic sanding of the head by the pig artisans rather than a design change. Keller Style IV - Scarce

 

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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Sneed

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Photos by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Sneed

Five-colored painted eyes
The eyes of this pig were painted with exceptional care - five colors were used. Can you see them?
Also, note the coloration and shape of the ears.
Rare with Multicolored Eyes

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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer

Painted eyes, broad nose

The broad-nose painted eyes pig is probably the most commonly found. Note that the nostrils are drilled holes. The different shapes of the nose is probably the result of variations due to hand shaping.
Keller Style V - Very Scarce

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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer

 

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Decal eyes, broad nose

The decal eyes pig was probably the last made and could be the rarest. We have seen only two examples.

 

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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Sneed

Painted eyes, painted nostrils

Surely this was the last regular-size pig made. The nostrils were painted-on rather than drilled as they had been with the earlier pigs. This is the only example we have seen made like this.

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Photo by Jim Sneed

 

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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer

Reduced size, open mouth, painted eyes

The reduced pig was made with a molded head and painted eyes or decal eyes. This open-mouth design has indistinct ears and nostrils. This example has painted eyes. There may be decal eyes versions of the open-mouth reduced design out there.

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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer

 

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Reduced size, closed mouth, decal eyes

This version was made by molding the head and applying decals for eyes. The shape of the head is much more pig-like in this design.

 

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Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Sneed

See-Saw Pig Tricks