This miniature toy circus roundabout is a working model.
It is made from acid free paper and card and is under 1 inch (2.5cm) in width and just over 1 inch (2.5cm) in height.
The original version was published at the beginning of the 20th Century by a French company called Imagerie d’Epinalis.
It was printed on paper sheets and was designed to be to be cut out and assembled at home.
I am particularly fond of my miniature version because it actually works – when the gold knob is gently pulled upwards and turned, the stage revolves and the figures go round and round.
Hello,
Love your webpages and visit often ,you inspire me greatly !!
You always have such extravagant unusual items.
This is a really adorable Circus Roundabout .For the last few years I have collected many circus images but have not made a circus display as of now.Seems like I have seen this somewhere as a free download not to long ago but did not download it at that time because I was searching for something else.
Do you or anyone know where I can download this project or a Circus tent ? either Free ware or purchase.
Thank you in advance,have a most wonderful day,
Brigitte
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Thank you Brigitte,
You could try the Victoria and Albert Museum’s download for a (nearly (full size) version of this roundabout. I don’t know how well it will print out, but I suspect that the quality will be OK.
Somewhere in the Agence Eureka’s photostream on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/taffeta/sets/
there were some other examples of circus, circus tents and zoo animals etc. (I’ve seen them, but finding them again might be a bit of a challenge – although it is well worth looking at the amazing collection).
There are a couple of d’Epinal circus sets for sale on Ebay at the moment –
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pellerin-Imagerie-D-Epinal-No-505-Grand-Cirque-Grandes-Construction-paper-model-/250736417386
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Pellerin-Imagerie-D-Epinal-1003-Le-Cirque-Moyennes-Constructions-/251105638037?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3a770ff695
The second example is here on Flickr – http://www.flickr.com/photos/taffeta/3245032473/ (I don’t know what the download quality is like !)
E K Duncan also has this example in her collection – http://www.ekduncan.com/2013/03/spanish-paper-theater-images-part-1.html – so it could be worth visiting her site and having a look around there.
Another good site or paper toys is here –
http://ilfavolosomondodicartaditoto.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/Circus
There are some more modern circuses there
I hope you find something that you like 🙂
Elizabeth
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