German. 1900-1914. Painted tin. This toy was made by the Doll & Cie (or Doll & Co.). The company was founded in 1898 in Nuremberg, Germany, a city world-famous as a major global toy manufacturing center that dates back to the Medieval Period (C.1400 with the production of clay dolls). The company was known for producing high-quality German toys, including model steam engines, toy trains, and novelty items like Ferris wheels, such as the one offered here. The company ceased toy production in 1938. This toy Ferris wheel works by either manually turning the hand crank or by connecting a small steam engine to the axle via a belt or pulley system. The steam engine would provide the power, and a large gear reduction would slow the rotation to a manageable speed. This particular toy is a Doll & Cie model 729/2, with six passenger gondolas. From the Yvan Lalonde Collection.

Size
15" x 7" x 7.25".

Condition
Good condition. Stable paint flakes and oxidation. Composition figures for each gondola (2 per each) are missing.

Medium
Painted tin.

Provenance
From the Yvan Lalonde Collection.