Early 20th Century Hand Carved and Painted Chalkware Chimpanzee

American painted chalkware chimpanzee circa 1920s. These figurines date back as far as the 1800s and were often used as carnival prizes. Chalkware is composed of plaster of Paris (a carving, in this example, as opposed to a mold). Since it is unfired, unlike a glaze, its colors are exposed, and the coatings offer little protection. Hence, these pieces are easy chipped / broken, given the fragile quality of materials. Wear is accepted and expected with pieces of this material.
In this case, there is very minimal flaking / chipping, and this extraordinary example is in very nice condition considering its age / materials used. Beautiful incorporation of colors (red, black, yellow, and blue) all derived from beeswax pigments.
A fine example of early 20th century chalkware.
H 6.25″ x W 5.5″ x D 2.75″