Lot Essay
Four toy trains in one lot (4)
Details
LYONEL FEININGER (1871-1956)
Four toy trains
carved and painted wood
Locomotive, length: 8in. (20.5cm.)
Tender, length: 4¼in. (11cm.)
Pullman car, length: 8½in. (21.5cm.)
Carriage, length: 3½in. (9cm.) (4)
Four toy trains
carved and painted wood
Locomotive, length: 8in. (20.5cm.)
Tender, length: 4¼in. (11cm.)
Pullman car, length: 8½in. (21.5cm.)
Carriage, length: 3½in. (9cm.) (4)
Provenance
Dr. Royal E. S. and Martha Philips Hayes, Waterbury, Connecticut
Literature
T. L. Feininger, Lyonel Feininger, City at the Edge of the World, New York, 1965, pp. 25-33 (for general information on the artist's toy trains; cf. illustrations of related toy trains, pp. 16-17)
In 1911 Feininger met Karl Lowenstein, whose father Otto Lowenstein owned a wooden toy factory in Munich. Having seen some toy trains which Feininger had given to his children, the younger Lowenstein suggested that the artist supply designs and models for trains to be produced at his father's factory. Throughout 1913 the artist worked on plans for this project and by May, 1914 the final working drawings had been sent to Lowenstein. By this time the artist had become so pre-occupied with this project that he wrote on June 27: "I have not a square inch free on either table or chairs; all is taken up by toys..." (T.L. Feininger, p.33). Production of toy trains was discontinued soon after the outbreak of the First World War on August 1.
In 1911 Feininger met Karl Lowenstein, whose father Otto Lowenstein owned a wooden toy factory in Munich. Having seen some toy trains which Feininger had given to his children, the younger Lowenstein suggested that the artist supply designs and models for trains to be produced at his father's factory. Throughout 1913 the artist worked on plans for this project and by May, 1914 the final working drawings had been sent to Lowenstein. By this time the artist had become so pre-occupied with this project that he wrote on June 27: "I have not a square inch free on either table or chairs; all is taken up by toys..." (T.L. Feininger, p.33). Production of toy trains was discontinued soon after the outbreak of the First World War on August 1.