Chilau Dinosaurs 

from the Dinosaur Collector

update 032106

 

Chialu of Italy made a series of nice looking painted figures modeled after Rudolph Zallinger's "Age of Reptiles" mural that appeared in Life magazine in the early 1950s.  They have not preserved well as they were made of a composite.  The prehistoric flying squirrel Planetarium is unique in toy lines, however; very collectable and rare. The style is reminiscent of the Linde series from Austria.   One of the Children's Museum of Indianapolis' "Dinosphere" exhibit highlights is a very rare set of Chialu dinosaurs made in Italy in the 1950s.   Collected by Pennsylvania collector Joe DeMarco.

From the Collection of Joe Demarco

Among the rarest collectables made in Italy sold primarily in the US in the mid 50's. Figures were hand painted producing variations in color. Production was limited and aimed at the high end museum and luxury markets. The bone meal, wood plaster composite popular in Europe after the war also limited survivability. Not all figures carry the Chilau stamp. There a 16 figures documented Dimetrodon, Sphenacodon, Plateosaurus, Brontosaurus, Tyrannosaurus, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Ankylosaurus, Kronosaurus, Brachuchenius, Pteranodon, Diatryma, Woolly Mammoth, Megatherium, Boreostracon and Planetarium. A Dire Wolf and Cave Bear have also been identified. There were also two dragons sold with the dinosaurs.

from the collection of Caprio.

See Prehistoric Times #46 Chilau Prehistorics By Joe DeMarco.

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