At the turn of the century, Philadelphia toy maker A. Schoenhut seized upon the circus mania that had spread across the nation, producing miniature versions of the beloved circus performers and animals. Called the Humpty Dumpty Circus-a name inspired by a popular play of the time-the toy line became in immediate success. It featured ten core performers, over thirty different animals, and a wide variety of accessories, ranging from simple props like chairs and ladders to elaborate, three-dimension canvas tents. Chariots often appeared in circus parades and in acts reminscent of Roman chariot races. This gilded chariot includes a burro, a donkey-like animal ofted used in clown acts, and a clown driver.