Very rare 1880s toy automaton croquet player from the Stephen Sondheim collection

As a young man, Stephen Sondheim learned to play croquet on the lawn of his mentor, Oscar Hammerstein II. This rare Victorian object must have reminded Stephen of those idyllic times. It also, no doubt, appealed to his taste for Victoriana. According to Bertoia, the leading toy auctioneers of Vineland, NJ, this clockwork piece was patented in 1881 and ours is one of very few known examples. The wood has a rich patina and the dashing mustachioed figure's clothes, although a bit worn, are still evocative of warm summer afternoons spent with a mallet in hand. The piece is 19" long. The piece does not currently function. It was lot number 353 in the Doyle Collection of Stephen Sondheim auction held on June 18, 2024. The accompanying Doyle auction tag will be the proof of authenticity.

10% of the proceeds from the sale of pieces in the "Treasures" category of Sondheim Selections will be donated to PBS. Over the years, broadcasting on PBS was the only way millions of Americans could experience the productions of Stephen Sondheim. It seems fitting to support PBS at this time, in this way.