Cat from a Ball Toss Game

Object Details

Artist

Unidentified (American)

Luce Center Label

Ball-toss games are a traditional part of carnivals and fairs. The artist designed this piece to land upright when thrown, reflecting the saying that a cat always lands on its feet. Visitors to fairgrounds won prizes by throwing a ball like this to knock down cans, pass through holes, or land within targets.

Credit Line

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Herbert Waide Hemphill, Jr. and museum purchase made possible by Ralph Cross Johnson

ca. 1920

Object number

1986.65.287

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Sculpture

Folk Art

Medium

painted canvas with leather, wood and metal

Dimensions

14 1/2 x 7 5/8 x 6 in. (36.9 x 19.5 x 15.2 cm.)

See more items in

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department

Painting and Sculpture

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Topic

Animal\cat

Record ID

saam_1986.65.287

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/vk79793fad4-1c3c-4c22-9bc0-f5c98d0402d0