A circular puzzle featuring a caricatured figure raising his hat in a gesture of greeting. The highly expressive face, with its wide-open eyes and exaggerated features, is reminiscent of the popular satirical illustrations found in newspapers and on entertainment items around 1900. The game involves guiding five small metal balls into the cavities in the design, particularly around the hat. These small, pocket-sized dexterity games, made of metal with a lithographed design protected by domed glass, were very common at the turn of the 20th century and today stand as charming examples of popular toys from the Belle Époque.
✦ Origin: Europe ✦ Period: Circa 1900 ✦ Dimensions: approx. 4.5 cm ✦ Condition: Good overall condition with normal wear and tear on the case. Two very small internal chips in the glass are visible inside the game (fragments remaining under the glass), but the outer surface of the glass is intact and perfectly smooth.
Small miniature patience game with a caricatural decor typical of the Belle Époque, sought after by collectors of antique games and popular toys from the early 20th century.
