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sellingantiques.co.uk
ID #SA1209541
FOR SALE
£995
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C. 1920, Circus Clown, Ball Swallower in Papier-mâché (French).
White Space Antiques
for sale €1,164     $1,264
£995
White Space Antiques

White Space Antiques

Sellingantiques Verified Since Feb 2026
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Id #SA1209541
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C. 1920, Circus Clown, Ball Swallower in Papier-mâché (French).

1900 - 1920
Description

C. 1920, Circus Clown, Ball Swallower in Papier-Mâché (English).

Painted papier-mâché clown on pine frame. The object of the game was to throw rag balls into the hole formed by the mouth.

Great patina. It's been stored in the barn of a circus and fairground memorabilia collector for over thirty years and was originally purchased in Paris, France.

CONDITION:

Condition commensurate with age. No major damage.

COLLECTION:

Buyer must collect, or arrange collection, from Westbury, Wiltshire.

WEBSITE:

For more information and more detailed images, please visit our website:

https://www.WhiteSpaceAntiques.com

Physical Dimensions
Height
97cm (38.19")
Width
75cm (29.53")
Depth
30cm (11.81")
Declaration

White Space Antiques has dated this Papier Mache Clown Target to the 1920s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Reference
SA1209541
Description
C. 1920, Circus Clown, Ball Swallower in Papier-Mâché (English).

Painted papier-mâché clown on pine frame. The object of the game was to throw rag balls into the hole formed by the mouth.

Great patina.

“
It's been stored in the barn of a circus and fairground memorabilia collector for over thirty years and was originally purchased in Paris, France.
White Space Antiques
fig 1. A painted early 20th-century French papier-mache clown head with an open mouth target and green top hat for a fairground ball swallower game.
fig 1. C. 1920, Circus Clown, Ball Swallower in Papier-mâché (French).

CONDITION:

Condition commensurate with age. No major damage.

COLLECTION:

Buyer must collect, or arrange collection, from Westbury, Wiltshire.

WEBSITE:

For more information and more detailed images, please visit our website:

https://www.WhiteSpaceAntiques.com

Height
97cm (38.19")
Width
75cm (29.53")
Depth
30cm (11.81")
Date of Manufacture

White Space Antiques has dated this Papier Mache Clown Target to the 1920s.

Reference Numbers
Sellingantiques Ref
SA1209541
White Space Antiques
White Space Antiques
Sellingantiques verified Since Feb 2026

Curate your white space

Dealer Profile

You can view the stock and full dealer information on the White Space Antiques Profile Page

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A painted early 20th-century French papier-mache clown head with an open mouth target and green top hat for a fairground ball swallower game.
1 / 5
Archive I A painted early 20th-century French papier-mache clown head with an open mouth target and green top hat for a fairground ball swallower game.

C. 1920, Circus Clown, Ball Swallower in Papier-mâché (French).

Archive II A painted early 20th-century French papier-mache clown head with an open mouth target and green top hat for a fairground ball swallower game. View II
Archive III A painted early 20th-century French papier-mache clown head with an open mouth target and green top hat for a fairground ball swallower game. View III
Archive IV A painted early 20th-century French papier-mache clown head with an open mouth target and green top hat for a fairground ball swallower game. View IV
Archive V A painted early 20th-century French papier-mache clown head with an open mouth target and green top hat for a fairground ball swallower game. View V
Enlarged Archival View
White Space Antiques

White Space Antiques
Telephone 07760 835542
Location
Westbury
Wiltshire
United Kingdom

By appointment only.
Dealer Profile Page sellingantiques.co.uk/whitespace
Verified Since Feb 2026
Items For Sale 84
Items Sold 19
White Space Antiques
White Space Antiques
Verified Since Feb 2026
View Dealer Info
Location: Westbury, Wiltshire, United Kingdom, , By appointment only.
Profile: sellingantiques.co.uk/whitespace
Verified
Feb 2026
For Sale
84
Sold
19
A painted early 20th-century French papier-mache clown head with an open mouth target and green top hat for a fairground ball swallower game.
C. 1920, Circus Clown, Ball Swallower in Papier-Mâché (French).
Ref: SA1209541
A painted early 20th-century French papier-mache clown head with an open mouth target and green top hat for a fairground ball swallower game.
Detail View 1
Detail View 2
Detail View 3
Detail View 4
Archival Detail

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FAQs

Ball swallower games, known historically in France as mange-tout, were fairground attractions popular in the early 20th century where players threw balls into the oversized open mouth of a painted character to score points.

These targets were commonly constructed using moulded papier-mache or carved wood, finished with vibrant coats of polychrome paint and occasionally reinforced with plaster or canvas.

Authentic pieces typically exhibit age-appropriate paint wear, layered papier-mache visible in worn areas, hand-painted details, and evidence of mounting or ball impact around the central aperture.

Incorporate characterful fairground art as a focal conversational statement piece on a console table, bookshelf, or wall display within an eclectic or maximalist room setting.

Dust gently with a soft, dry microfibre brush or cloth, keeping the object in a climate-controlled environment away from direct sunlight, moisture, and high humidity to prevent flaking paint.
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