Vintage Japanese Wind Up Mohair Cat Clockwork Toy

Vintage Japanese Wind Up Mohair Cat Clockwork Toy

Regular price $55.00 USD
Regular price Sale price $55.00 USD
Sale Sold out

Wind him and the tongue goes in and out of the dish while the noise maker runs, so he laps at his milk. He is mohair over a tin clockwork body, with the original ribbon still tied at his neck. The mark is the dating clue, and what it does not say is as useful as what it does.

Dimensions
6 in. L 2.25 in. H 2 in. W
Surface
Original mohair, not recovered or cleaned. Thin and bare patches with faded and blotchy striping
Primary Material
Mohair plush over a tin clockwork body
Period
Vintage
Date
Circa 1930s to 1950s, most likely 1950s
Origin
Japan
Style or Movement
Mid century Japanese clockwork novelty
Also Known As
wind up toy, clockwork toy, tin litho novelty
Maker, Mark, or Attribution
Unmarked manufacturer. Pieces marked only Japan with no maker name were common in this genre
Marks
Stamped JAPAN with the factory number 79. Notably NOT marked Made in Occupied Japan, which was used only between 1945 and 1952, so this sits either pre war or post 1952
Construction or Technique
Wind up clockwork mechanism driving a painted metal tongue in and out of the dish with an integral noise maker
Secondary Material
Glass or celluloid eyes, painted composition bowl, original neck ribbon

Complete and, importantly, the mechanism still works. Condition is honest and well loved. The mohair shows wear with some thin and bare patches, the grey and purple striping has faded and gone blotchy in places, and the neck ribbon is frayed. The bowl and tongue are present and the action runs. Please review all photographs closely, as they form part of this description.

Shipping & Returns

All antique and vintage items are shipped from our warehouse in Bluffdale, Utah. Each piece is carefully packed by hand using archival materials and custom crating when necessary.

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Furniture is the exception. Because of size and weight, furniture shipping is quoted separately rather than calculated at checkout. Send a DM on Instagram or email austynmariedesign@gmail.com for a quote, or arrange your own shipping from the warehouse.

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If your piece arrives damaged, please photograph the damage immediately (including packaging), contact us within 48 hours at austynmariedesign@gmail.com, and do not discard any packaging.

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Important Info About Antique & Vintage

Every antique and vintage item we carry has lived a life before arriving in your home. These are not factory-made products. They are objects with history, character, and the marks of time.

Age-appropriate wear, patina, minor imperfections, and signs of previous use or repair are inherent to antique and vintage items and are not considered defects. These characteristics are part of what makes each piece unique and are often what give it its beauty and value.

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Descriptions, dates, attributions, materials, and measurements are provided in good faith and reflect our best assessment based on research, physical examination, and the information available to us. Antique and vintage pieces often carry incomplete or unverifiable histories. Where a detail is an assessment rather than a confirmed fact, it is identified as such. Measurements are approximate. All items are sold as-is, with the photographs and condition report governing.

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