Overview
These are authentic 'punks,' the rugged, weighted targets used in carnival midway games where players attempted to knock them off a pedestal with a baseball.
1Identify
Preliminary identification
Pair of American Carnival 'Punks' (Knock-down Dolls), c. 1930s-1950s
Photo reference
1 uploaded photo
Story
Traveling carnivals in the early 20th century were the primary source of wonder for rural towns, and these 'punks' were the unsung workhorses of the midway.
Maker / Origin
While some were mass-produced by companies like H.C. Evans & Co. of Chicago, many were handmade by the carnival workers themselves or local seamstresses using whatever heavy materials were available.
Condition & Value
These show heavy 'battle scars' including staining on the canvas and thinning of the wool manes, which is actually desirable to many collectors as it proves they were… Values for carnival punks have soared as they are now viewed as legitimate folk art; the 'creepiness' factor of the face and the presence of original wool manes drive…
Research
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