2018: THE CIRCUS—VINTAGE WIND-UP TIN TOYS

In 2018, the Museum’s featured annual exhibit “The Circus” was created in response to children’s gleeful reactions to a small circus display which is part of our permanent collection. Among all our varied displays, circus material was always a favorite.

Late 2017 into 2018 was spent planning the display, gathering already owned objects to include and acquiring additional things. The display was installed in March/April 2018 prior the Museum’s participation in the West Austin Studios Tour. Tin toys featured in the display date from the late 19th century into the 1950’s, mostly German made but with some objects from Japan and the United States. Rather than simply displaying a series of stand-alone objects, our plan was to create an integrated circus environment with carts of animals, prancing horses, clowns arriving at the circus site in anticipation of visitors.