This set has various components that weren't originally together, but make a wonderful village diorama. The farmer, the animals and the palm tree are antique, from the 1920's. Only the farmer is marked Germany on the bottom, but they are all from Germany. The birds are in nice condition, with metal feet. There are a toe or two missing, but they stand well. Composition is a combination of glue, sawdust, plaster, clay, and sometimes sand. It varies by maker. This set also includes two much newer pieces - a darling little farm house, with a darling dovetailed fence. These pieces (the fence and house) are from the 1950's. They are hand made, with the fence being from Germany, and the house being from a crafter.
The animals are all great. The little lamb is made from ... something. I am not sure what. I believe it to be a type of composition. It feels almost like porcelain, or metal, but it isn't. It isn't plastic. This just leaves composite. The paint on all the figures is marvelous, with no damage, at all. The farmer even has his original pitchfork! It is made from lead, or antimony. The faces on the farmer and his wife are beautifully done - very detailed.
I am including a copy of a catalog page from 1925, that shows similar pieces - little animals, trees and farmer from a set that was sold through Louis Lange, a German publisher in Chicago who sold these type of toys at Christmas.
The palm tree is a composition (with lots of clay base), wood with a rough chenille tree and 5" tall.
The tiny fence is wood, and made with a slot construction. They measure 2.5" by 5/8".
The lamb is 2 3/8" by 1 1/4".
The duck is 1 3/4" x 1 1/2"
Chickens are slightly different sizes - one is looking down. The one looking up is 2 1/4" x 1 3/4".
The one looking down is 2 1/4" x 1 1/2".
You won't be disappointed with this set.
The sizes vary:
House is 5" tall with wood & cardboard with plastic windows. It is 4" across. These are the dimensions across the roof which sticks out from the house. The actual house part is 3.5" long, 3" wide and 4 1/4" tall.
The farmer and his wife (composition) are 3".