Sheep Pull Toy

Object/Artifact

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Neill-Cochran House Museum

Name/Title

Sheep Pull Toy

Context

The Neill-Cochran House Museum has an interesting collection of children’s toys from the early-to-mid-20th century that are displayed during the holiday season. These toys give us some insight into what children, and more specifically toddlers, might have received as Christmas presents in those days. These intriguing sheep pull toys would have been an especially entertaining plaything for a child in the early 20th century. Made of real sheepskin, the sheep would have been a unique sensory experience for a toddler. The sheep is mounted on a wood platform with four iron wheels and was therefore designed for a child to pull along. The appearance of the sheep is realistic. The eyes are glass, and the ears are made of leather. Originally these sheep were examples of figurines displayed in decorative Nativity or “Putz” winter scenes. The name “Putz” (pronounced “puts”) derives from the German verb “putzen” (to clean or to decorate). Immigrants of the Moravian Church, one of the oldest Protestant denominations, brought the tradition to the United States of the three-dimensional Putz Christmas miniatures that tell the Christmas story. One of the most popular figurines from these scenes is the so-called “Putz sheep.” Because the sheep’s wooden legs resemble matchsticks they are also known as matchstick sheep. While originally part of Nativity scenes, the iconic Putz sheep were also sold as inexpensive standalone children’s toys in the 20th-century. The Neill-Cochran House Museum Collection has 21 Putz sheep and 4 Putz rams. Other antique pull-along toys in the collection include a horse with a rolling metal harness holding a bell that rings when pulled, and a bear that pulls a large metal wheel that also makes sounds when in motion. These NCHM’s toys were gifted to the Museum by Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Adams. You can view these toys and all our playful Christmas artifacts and decorations, Wed-Sun, 11-4pm, at the Neill-Cochran House Museum.

Acquisition

Accession

2013.06

Source or Donor

Barbara Adams

Acquisition Method

Gift