Indian Circus Truck

Every Indian remembers this feeling: The circus is coming to town.

First, a loudspeaker, far away. Then closer. Then a red truck turns the corner, a drummer marching beside it and performers on the roof, and for a moment the whole town stops.

Indian Circus Truck freezes that moment in miniature. A ringmaster with his megaphone, a dancer and a juggler ride on top of the trunks. A drummer walks beside the bumper, and a clown leans off the rear ladder, unable to stay serious for even a second. On the roadside, a boy takes a paper notice as if it were a golden ticket, a man on a bicycle brakes mid-ride, and a dog runs alongside, as excited as everyone else. Every figure is hand-painted, down to the tiniest face.

The circus truck always carried one message: something wonderful is coming. That makes it a gift for good news, too. Give it to announce a new beginning, like a new home, an engagement, a promotion or a new venture. Or give it to anyone who grew up loving the circus.

Details

Material: Hand-cast resin, meticulously hand-painted.

Size:  H – 11 cm × W – 11 cm × L – 18 cm

Includes: Authenticity Card and a special Story Card.

Weight: Approximately 726 grams

Care & instructions: These hand painted sculpture are meant for display purposes only. Please handle them with care and do not wash. Please use a feather duster or similar to brush off dust.

Please note: Each piece is hand-painted. Minor variations from the images shown are natural and part of its handcrafted character.

Backstory

Before phones and posters, a circus announced itself by road. A truck with a loudspeaker came into town first, calling out: “The circus is coming to town!”

India’s circus tradition goes back to 1880, and for over a century, circuses travelled from town to town across the country. We named the circus in this piece,  Once Upon a Circus because it stands for all the Indian circuses that were.

The trucks kept rolling, town after town. You don't see these trucks much anymore. But the feeling is still here.

Look closer

The Loudspeaker: Gold horns on the cab and a megaphone on the roof. The sound that reached the street before the truck did.

The Drum: A drummer keeps the rhythm beside a gold plate that reads THE CIRCUS IS COMING TO TOWN!

The Milestone: At the roadside, a yellow stone reads 5 Km. The circus is close.

The Dog: Running alongside, as excited as everyone else.

The Bicycle: A man brakes so suddenly he almost forgets to pedal. For a moment, the town is stopped.

The Paper Notice: A man hands a paper notice to a boy on a brick wall, and the boy treats it like treasure.

The Clown: Hanging off the rear ladder, grinning at the crowd.

The Luggage: Trunks piled on the roof, ready for the road. Tomorrow, a new town.