Rare "Shepherd with Flute" (Part of "Happy Farm" Series)

[Erik in NJ]

I was pleasantly surprised to unearth this little guy on my hunt with Grant Hansen. He came from the site that has given me the CT Copper and a number of beautiful Colonial relics. Thanks to our resident "toy expert extraordinaire" Subterranean I was able to get an ID on this piece:

"the lead figure that you have a rare "Shepherd with Flute," part of the "Happy Farm" series of domestic characters by the Manoil toy company. They were produced in 1941-1942. The item at the boy's side is his shepherd's crook, and he is playing a horn. Manoil made some of the most detailed, authentic soldiers and characters in the history of American lead toy soldiers."

It appears that his horn and crook are not 100% intact, but the detail on this figure is amazing right down to his eyes. Interestingly enough, he is hollow with two holes in the base, one on the side under his arm, and one on top of his head. It was filled with dirt when found him and I used a toothpick to remove all of the dirt that had settled in the figure over the last 60+ years.

Thanks again to Sub for the ID on this very cool, rare WW II-era figurine!

 

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[Mackaydon]

Good catch Erik !!
Here's what it looked like 'back in the day'.
Vintage Manoil Happy Farm Shepherd with Flute | eBay
Don.......

 

[BuckleBoy]

Manoil made a ton of figurines and some pretty wildly designed, futuristic looking cars:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UJHwbbebu...Composite-Red+Manoil-Futuristic-Flat+Tail.jpg

Cool find!


-Buck

 

[Erik in NJ]

Good catch Erik !!
Here's what it looked like 'back in the day'.
Vintage Manoil Happy Farm Shepherd with Flute | eBay
Don.......

Hey Don! Thanks and thanks for the link! May have to bid on that auction to put them next to the one I found It's a great little figurine!

 

[CRUSADER]

Glad you said that, I would have thought a Native American smoking a Peace Pipe.