Customized plush has completely taken off in recent years, but some might credit Circus Punks with starting the craze. Circus Punks refer back 150 years to their Americana predecessors–the knock down dolls. Carnival booth proprietors handpainted the dolls, which were then battered by baseballs in the quest to win large, deformed stuffed animal prizes. Paul Cruikshank resurrected the art with Circus Punks. Many a famous vinyl toy artist has lent his/her style to a Circus Punk, and on October 25th, the Phillips de Pury auction will take bids on three by Tado, Thomas Han and Gargamel (lots 146-148 starting here). We previously profiled Koji Harmon and Kiyoka Ikeda’s Circus Punk/vinyl Hedoran limited edition combo here. The Tado and Thomas Han Punks are both unique one-offs, which could explain the estimated pricetags of $800-$1200. Happy bidding!
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