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Text by Ellen Gardner
Oh, how quickly one chalkware Scottish terrier evolved into a
350-piece collection for St. Louis businessman John Brauch.
“My wife, Cam,
is a Scottish terrier fanatic,” he explains. “She collects all things Scottish
terrier—they’re all over the house. We enjoy going to antique shows, flea
markets, and garage sales, and I try to help her build her collection by keeping
my eye out.”
During one antique hunt, he discovered a chalkware Scottish
terrier. “It reminded me of growing up in the 1950s, when chalkware figures were
offered as prizes at fairs and carnivals,” he says. “I was so drawn by nostalgia
that I decided I needed a collection of my own.”
(a) Among the most coveted of the carnival game prizes from the early to
mid-1900s are chalkware figurines of the Lone Ranger, Snow White, Popeye (with a
real corncob pipe), and Dumbo. All are about 12 inches tall. “Popeye is one of
my favorites,” John says. “He’s worth about $250, but I wouldn’t let him go for
any price.”
(b) These chalkware figures reflect popular culture from about
1910 through the 1950s, including (from left) a glamour girl, ventriloquist’s
dummy Charlie McCarthy, a majorette, a WWI soldier, and a girl playing bagpipes.
Kewpie-type dolls (c) were popular during this era, too. The black
Kewpie doll is extremely rare. The clown (d) is a bank. Its glitter
decoration indicates it was made after 1930.
Carnival Collectibles page
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