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This is a very lovely and Extremely Rare Einco ‘FIFI’ the cat dating to C1912 with her characteristic comical and very cute ‘Einco’ looks of googly movable eyes ,large head and typical zig zag style stitched mouth with beige nose stitching and two spot stitches for nostril’s and partly shaved face around her facial features.
She was patented by Eisenmann & Co who were better known as ‘EINCO’ and before WW1 they were known as the King of the Toy trade, they were Major toy distributors who had other companies make their toys for them like Chiltern, Harwin and Farnell .
The Einco company was founded by two brothers Josef and Gabriel Eisenmann . Gabriel was based in Germany while Josef was based in London.
It was Josef who founded the Chiltern toy works in Chesham Buckinghamshire in 1908. Chiltern toys were registered in 1924 and previously it was known as Eisenmann & Co (EINCO)
‘Fifi’ and ‘Tubby’ the dog and other cat and dog friends Fluffy and Frisky to name but two more came in various guises and colours and were all produced by the Einco company and were very popular at the time . They were so popular too with their cute and comical looks that they were reproduced in drawings by the artists A E KNIGHT & M KENNEDY in comical scenes and published and sold on postcards as well as appearing in book illustrations too.
Fifi is one of the best examples I have seen for many years I have to say , firstly yes because not only is she is very rare and they seldom make an appearance but also the fabulous condition of her beautiful white blonde mohair coat which has no real signs of loss or thinning or discoloration !
Her eyes are later glass replica replacements and are exactly like the ones and the colour she would have originally had.These eyes were made and set so they could be turned/swivelled so she could give different looks from her eyes! This was actually mentioned on the ‘EINCO KIDDIELAND’ advertising metal and paper swing tag /discs that accompanied these ‘FIFI’ cats and were hanging on a thread loosely stitched to the front of their chests.
She measures approximately 10″ in height from her front paw to the top of her head . Her head is jointed also so it can turn to help in making her more expression-able.
Her length front her front paws to the end of her tail is approximately 17″ and from her from paws to her bottom end excluding the tail is 10″
These seated FIFI cats were made with just two front paws and no back legs/feet . The front legs are made separate to the body and have internal wire supports inside them a little of this wire is peeping out a bit at the front of one of her feet but this is not worrying really or detrimental to her . However she does have a little difficulty in sitting upwards without some support under the front legs but again this is not really detrimental to her. Looking at her other leg she might have been given a small holding stitch Once upon a time where the top of the leg meets the body but I am unsure here and I could be totally wrong.
She has retained her two beige coloured claw stitches to each paw which are slightly hidden in her long creamy coloured mohair.
Fifi is stuffed firmly throughout with wood wool . She has a side press squeaker in her body which is quiet these days but her face speaks volumes for her instead!
FIFI REALLY IS A VERY RARE & FINE LOOKING EXAMPLE EINCO CAT FOR A ANTIQUE TOY CAT COLLECTION !
PLEASE SEE FIFI’s OTHER RARE EINCO FRIEND A ‘TUBBY’ TYPE DOG I CURRENTLY HAVE LISTED FOR AUCTION
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