1920s Hansel Gretel Witch - Swiss Weather Prophet Barometer Keydel Co. Michigan
Item History & Price
| Reference Number: Avaluer:44235138 |
1920s Hansel and Gretel versus the Witch - Swiss Weather Prophet barometer manufactured by the Keydel Co. in Detroit, Michigan. This is a very cute little Swiss chalet, that is a hygrometer and reacts to moisture in the air to show weather changes. This one is from the late teens or early 1920s. The picture of the advertisement is from the Modern Woodmen paper in 1921. The house is supposedly the witch's house who is one of the characters and the other two are Hansel... and Gretel. If it is going to be rainy the witch comes out and then the kids come out for fair weather. This still works. Though the thermometer still looks to have fluid in it, it does not appear to work. The house is fancy starting with a chimney and birdhouse on the roof, with a rocky covering. Two logs cross over the eave and the peak of the house. The end of one is broken off. Just below the roof is a deer head. Below the deer are two windows with green shutters. There is.a weaved straw wrap that goes around the house just below the windows. On the right is a white and grey bird perched on a log. Between the doorways is the thermometer. Hansel, Gretel and the witch appear to be made of chalk and hand painted. All of this appears to be handmade. Inside the house on the back wall is a lithograph type paper showing the inside of the house with a fireplace, shelves, etc. I tried to take a picture of it but hard to get. Across the floor/base is the writing The Keydel Co. then a signature of Mr. Ketdel, followed by Detroit, Michigan. Underneath where the figures move is a scale with Fair Weather (fair is slightly faded) on one side and Rain on the other. Overall in great shape of being around 100 years old. It has 4 round red legs, and also a hole in the back piece for hanging it on a wall. It stands abut 7" tall, is 5" across the front and 4" deep. The witch is about 2" tall and the kids are about 1.5" tall.Let me know if you have any questions or need further info. Thanks for looking!
