William Henry James Shaw
This figure was made between 1890 and 1910 by
a figure maker named William Henry James Shaw. He was from Victoria
Missouri and was a mannequin and window display maker. He also
produced mechanical wax figures like the type figure you would see
in Tussaud's Wax Museum. His catalogue also boasted that he made the
world's best ventriloquist figures. These were made of wood and
paper mache. His black figures were called " Laughing Negro" of
course the Negro minstrel shows were going very strong so this was
not out of place.
This example that you see is all original but the tar baby paint has
been touched up. The body, head stick and clothing are all original
and period to this figure. He has a wonderful free floating head
with a great locking mechanism to hold it in place but yet allow the
free float. Side to side self centering eyes and moving leather
mouth. You will look far and wide to find a better example of this
type ventriloquist figure. |
