Vintage Plaster Democrat Donkey ?

Hello everyone,

Ive been searching the internet for anything I can find on this. I rescued this from an abandoned house that was going to be demolished. Its a to scale plaster donkey that's obviously for a political purpose. It is old, a little rough around the edges and its ears have fallen off. However someone took a lot of time making this! My problem is I can not find anything like this online or even close. Anyone have any ideas?

Thank you so much

 

Wow--- I like it !
I've never seen one that size. Great conversation piece for sure.

 

Yeah that is a valid point.

 

Ass it is.

 

Is it attached to the two boards under it in the photo?
Have you seen the bottom of the hooves and do they look like they were previously attached to anything other than the boards it is on now?
Does it look like it has always been attached to those boards (the boards look "newer" to me than the animal)?
Is it covered in skin/hide?
Is that real animal hair for the tail?
How heavy (approximately) is it?
What are the eyes made of?
Do you think it could possibly be an animal which has been preserved through taxidermy?

I wonder if it was a state's (or even national) Democratic Convention's "mascot" which may have even been "on-stage" during conventions or smaller political gatherings or perhaps even pulled along (on wheels) in parades.

It is a very interesting item.

 

I even searched "Dandy Dem" to see if it showed up as an old movie or even as an old comic strip -- I came up empty-handed on both.

 

I haven't had any luck researching this either. The only "Dandy Dem" I have come across is used today as a derogatory name calling of a very liberal Democratic by ultra conservative Republicans & Democrats.

A little off subject of the donkey, I thought it was interesting to see the term "Dandy Democrat" was used in mid-Victorian era literature such as Shirley Brooks calling Clarvering Dorset a "dandy democrat" in Aspen Court, and Who Lost and Who Won. Also saw where Dickens himself was referred to as a "dandy democrat."

May have been something like Don suggested, a German Putz toy, or maybe something like one of the following, but not as old, that a Democratic candidate latched on to.

Look at #42 through #47 and $49:
http://www.horstauction.com/AntiqueFall'13List.html

--- Susan

 

Wow. Someone who reads mid-Victorian literature.

 

I had a donkey but he passed at age 38 I would love to make a life size donk and a horse some day.

 

Hi,
When I saw this photo today I thought of this post.
greg