All About Old Toys

 

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Zebu

by Judith Lile and Jim Sneed

 The Schoenhut Zebus
The zebu was introduced in 1909 with the Teddy Roosevelt sets. Since it was not a popular circus animal, no large numbers were sold and are today, uncommon. A zebu in an American circus has been recorded as early as the 1820s. They were usually part of the menagerie or to pull carts. There have been zebu acts much like cow acts.
We have photographed three distinct Schoenhut zebu varieties - a glass eyes carved head, a painted eyes carved head, and a painted eyes molded head. We have found no decal eyes heads.


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer

Glass eyes

The glass eyes zebu features leather horns and ears, and a twisted cord tail. Keller Style I - Rare


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer



Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner

 


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Sneed


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer

Painted eyes, carved head

Except for the eyes, the painted eyes version is very similar to the glass-eyes version. Keller Style II - Rare


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Jim Kramer

 

 

 


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner

Painted eyes, molded-head

This zebu's head lacks the detail of the PE head shown above and may have been molded rather than carved. Notice also that the head painting is quite different from both the PE and the GE above.


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner


Photo by Jim Sneed from the collection of Susan Turner

 

Another molded head PE zebu has surfaced. We should have better photos of this example soon.