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Two little birds, still bright after nearly a century — the kind of object that tells you exactly where it came from the moment you see it.
Maker: Unknown
Subject: Birds on Green Base
Materials: Hand-painted plaster (chalkware)
Origin: USA
Era: Vintage, 1920s–1940s (estimated)
Dimensions: Approx. 2" tall
Variants: Red/Yellow or Yellow/Black — each sold as a set of 2
Condition: Very good vintage — minor nicks and chips consistent with age. Please note small size. Please review photos closely before purchasing, as all sales are final.
These are classic American carnival chalkware: hand-painted plaster bird figurines on green bases, the type given away as prizes at carnival midways from the 1920s through the 1940s. At just 2 inches tall they're tiny, but the colors have held beautifully and they have the particular charm of objects made to be won and treasured.
Genuinely rare in this small size. A wonderful gift for the chalkware collector, the carnival folk art enthusiast, or anyone who loves objects with a great American story behind them.
Carnival chalkware — often called “carny ware” — was mass-produced cheaply in American factories to be won as prizes at fairs and carnivals, prized today less for craftsmanship than for the nostalgia and Americana they represent.
Browse our shop for more vintage chalkware and carnival collectibles to round out your collection.
