Three Antique Kid's Blocks
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6 in X 8 in (15.2 cm X 20.3 cm) original acrylic painting on hand primed board $125. w/free shipping in US & Canada
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The three blocks shown in this painting are from three different sets of antique toy blocks. Over the years of searching for still life objects I've done some research on the different objects used from the toy box.
The large block on the left is from a set produced by The Embossing Company of Albany, NY., and were probably made around 1900. The Embossing Co. is considered the originator of ABC blocks in America. Today this set is referred to as “Uncle Goose Blocks” and came in a cloth bag. The design for these blocks may have originated in Europe.
The red “A” block next to it was also first manufactured by The Embossing Company and were made in a set 30 and each block measured 1 3/4” square. These date from around 1915 and were call “harmless” because of the rounded corners. The slogan on the box said “Toys That Teach” because of the alphabet, pictures of many kinds of objects and the stories that were shown such as “The Three Bears” with a three on this block.
The third block on the top is from a set of Walt Disney blocks made in late 1920's or early 1930's. The box for this set calls them “Saf ety blocks and was made by Halsam Products Co. founded in 1917 in Chicago, Illinois. Halsam later took over The Embossing Company and made a smaller version of their ABC blocks.
© Copyright by Paul Wolber