stuffed animal: Duck

The making of toy animal figures from plush fabric was not far removed from the cloth dolls that gained such popularity in the late 19th century. But surely children found much more to like about their soft, furry playthings. Youngsters found comfort in the texture of these toys and in their simple faces of shoe-button eyes and embroidered noses and mouths. Cuddled and cherished, these figures inspired children's fantasies of make-believe adventures and often became their constant companions in reality, too. This duck resembles R. Dankin & Co.'s Dream Pets, miniature stuffed animals made of velveteen and filled with sawdust.