Identification help please. We would appreciate any information regarding our vintage lion head, mechanical mount made in Western Germany and retailed by Marshall Fields department store. We have done exhaustive searches via the internet regarding the piece and have found nothing remotely similar aside of the Steiff jungle animal trophies of the 1950’s which are not a match. The mount is composed of dense papier mache. The face and ears are covered in coarse golden orange fur. The mane appears to be mohair and is grayish tan in color. The whiskers are boar or horse hair. The mouth interior, teeth and nose are handpainted. The nose is plaster. The tongue is covered in what may be felt. The eyes are wonderfully realistic and appear to be glass, although we cannot say so with certainty. The lashes very much resemble hair. A cord hangs from the bottom of the mount, which when pulled causes the mouth to open and a growl to be heard, sounding much like the bleet of a sheep. The head is mounted on a shield shaped plaque. The backside is ink stamped with the words Made In Western Germany, along with the remnants of two, older Marshall Fields price tags. The only details surviving on the partial tags are the letters S1 or SI, the handwritten number 35 and a dollar sign. The price behind the dollar sign is unknown as the remainder of the tag in that area is missing. The measurement is approximately 12″x15″ top to bottom and side to side across the mane.

We also have an elephant exhibiting all of the same makers characteristics and partial Marshall Fields price point. The elephant does not have the Western Germany ink stamp. It is covered in dense grayish brown, felt material. When it’s cord is pulled the trunk makes a quarter turn to the right from the otherwise lowered position. Unlike the lion which is in quite good condition aside of a bit of damage in the nose area, the elephant has seen it’s better days. The tusks, although we have them, are broken off and at some point the cord for moving the trunk was broken. We have replaced it with a strip of leather allowing it to function again. The elephant head is also attached to the same sort of shield shaped plaque as the lion. We presume that the items are of the mid century.

Many thanks for any insight the forum could provide.