Sean’s Acrobat

Sean Doyle and his acrobat, 1930s, West Clare

This energetic little gymnast on a bar belonged to Sean Doyle, who was born in 1921 in West Clare. The toy dates from the late 1920s to early 1930s and was made in Japan.

Sean was the eldest of a large family who worked a small farm and were not well off, so toys like this were precious.

Sean kept his Celluloid and Metal Acrobat Wind-up Toy – Arty the Trapeze Artist, Toyland Toy, safe in its box and took it with him when he moved to live in Limerick in 1958.

Sean’s acrobat and original box

Similar:

 https://www.ebay.com/itm/Celluloid-and-Metal-Acrobat-Wind-up-Toy-Japan-NEAR-MINT-1920s-/222702062774

And a reproduction acrobat type from our school’s outreach case: