MUSIC MOTION, FANCY

Sunday, November 23, 2008Lots 1-156

November 23, 2008 in Morristown, NJ

Rare automata and musical boxes from the 19th century are featured, including several outstanding models never previously documented. Multiple images of many pieces capture the "actions" of acrobats, clowns, and magicians. 9" x 12". Hardbound. 158 full-color pages.

Live Auction

Showing 1 - 156 of 156

Sort

French Musical Automaton,"Soldier with Pipe and Cane"

Lot #152

25" (64 cm.) Posed upon a velvet-covered wooden platform,as though leaning upon the wooden cane held in his left hand,is a soldier. Having paper-mache head with well-sculpted features,glass eyes,he has a modeled cap,carton torso and legs,painted shoes,and wearing his original yet somewhat ragged French military uniform,he depicts a weary yet stalwart veteran,likely of the first World War. He holds a pipe in his right hand. Movement and Music. Bringing the pipe to his mouth,he inhales,then turning his head to the left,exhales. Music plays. French,maker unknown,circa 1914.

Passed

German Shelf Clock by Junghans with Musical Automaton Fiddler

Lot #151

20" (51 cm.) A chestnut-cased wooden shelf clock with Roman numeral designed porcelain face,is decorated atop by a seated fiddler,having paper-mache with painted features,mohair wig,silk costume,and holding a fidder. Movements and Music. He plays the fiddle in a vigorous animated way,nodding his head and tapping his foot. Music plays. Junghans,Germany,circa 1910,the style of clock known as Black Forest.

Passed

German Automaton "The Shoe Cobbler" by Adolf Muller

Lot #150

20" (51 cm.) Arranged upon a wooden oak platform with chamfered edging,is a spindled wooden kitchen chair upon which is seated an elderly man,his head of paper-mache with brown glass eyes,articulated eyelids,sculpted wrinkles,white mohair wig and wire-framed spectacles that rest low on his somewhat bulbous nose. On his carton torso he wears original velvet waistcoat with matching fez trimmed with velour tassels,black woolen pants,and white shirt. His black shoes are carved wood,and his fitted stockings accentuate his muscular calves. In his well-shaped hands he holds a leather shoe,and a wooden-handled cast iron hammer. Movements. His forearms move independently as he vigorously tacks the heel onto the shoe he is holding in a perfectly synchronized motion. Meanwhile he nods his head up and down,his eyelids blinking,and as the motion slows down,he appears to be nodding off for a short snooze. Adolf Mueller,Germany,circa 1898. Examples of his work appear in the 19th century catalog of Ernst Holzweissig of Leipzig.

Passed

Automaton "the Knife Sharpener" with Clockwork Motor

Lot #149

22" (56 cm.) Arranged upon a box-shaped large wooden platform whose velvet cover is centered by a paper-mache ground-cover is a highly characterized man with paper-mache head,angular cheek and jaw bones,strong nose,painted features,brunette mohair wig and leather cap,and wearing an original woolen and serge costume on his carton torso. He has wooden feet,one attached to the treadle of his grinder,and wooden hands,one holding a wooden pitcher,and the other attached to the string of a grinding wheel. Movements. Standing behind a treadle-operated knife sharpening machine,he pumps the treadle,turning the wheel,and lifting his hand with pitcher; his head nods and turns. Within the wooden base is a mechanism that was originally driven by an exterior pulley or crank handle,but has since been adapted to a wind-up clockwork spring motor. The animations are determined by 4 wooden cams,most similar to those used by Phalibois. Maker unknown,early 20th century. This piece would originally have been part of a series of toy automata,each depicting a different occupation or activity,and the whole lot driven from a common source such as a toy steam engine.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Professor and the Dunce" by Roullet & Decamps

Lot #148

18" (46 cm.) Arranged upon a velvet-covered wooden platform is an amusing scene of a young student being scolded by a serious-minded Professor. Each has bisque head with glass eyes,nicely painted features,closed mouth,mohair wig,the Professor with metal hands,carton torso and legs,and wearing formal suit with pleated shirt and waistcoat,standing behind his wooden desk,holding a book in one hand and a wooden stick in the other. The student is kneeling,holding a book in his uplifted hands,and wearing a dunce cap on his head. Movements and Music. The Professor turns side-to-side,nodding his head and waving his stick as he turns to the student,and inclining his head to read from his book as he turns to the left. The Student lifts his book up and down,perhaps trying to learn,but likely just teasing the Professor,because throughout,the ears of his dunce cap move up and down,back and forth,in mocking gestures. Two tunes are played,one is Swanee River,suggesting the automaton was created for an American venue. Roullet et Decamps,Paris,circa 1895,with bisque heads by Jumeau and Gaultier. The automaton appeared in the Roullet & Decamps catalog as model 262.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Lady at Spinning Wheel" by Roullet & Decamps

Lot #147

18" (46 cm.) Arranged upon a velvet-covered wooden platform is a bisque-head lady seated at a wooden spinning wheel. She has blue glass paperweight eyes,painted features,closed mouth,blonde mohair wig,carton torso and legs,bisque forearms,and is wearing a fine silk costume with lace trim and bonnet,silk and lace apron. Movements and Music. She turns her head side-to-side,and nods forward,while turning the spinning wheel with her right hand,and appearing to feed the wool flax into the spinning wheel with the other. Music plays throughout. Attributed to Roullet et Decamps,circa 1895,with bisque head from Jumeau,marked "Tete Jumeau 2".

Passed

French Musical Scene Animee "The Monkey Professor and Student" by Phalibois

Lot #146

26" (66 cm.) Arranged upon an oval ebonized wooden platform,under a glass dome,is a grassy setting shaded by a large paper-mache tree with whose branches are laden with silk leaves and flowers. Underneath is posed a Monkey Professor,seated at his teacher's lectern-style desk,facing a Monkey Student who is too small to reach the blackboard without standing on a stool. The blackboard displays arithmetic lessons and a chalk drawing of a capped and bearded monkey. The blackboard and faux-grain paper-covered furniture are of wood. the painted monkey heads are of paper-mache with articulated kidskin jaws,glass eyes and mohair wigs. They are dressed regally in silk caps,jackets and breeches with gilt trim and buttons,and painted shoes. The professor is holding his lesson books and teaching stick,and the Student is holding chalk.Movements and Music. The Professor waves his stick and moves his head and jaw as if reading from his lesson book. The Student responds by moving his right hand to write his sums on the blackboard,as he glances alternately from his teacher to the blackboard,his jaw jabbering as if in an animated exchange. The model has 7 cams to animate the Professor,and 3 cams for the Student. There are two tunes,according to the original paper tune label,La Dame Blanche,and Les Cloches du Monastere. Jean Phalibois,Paris,circa 1880. The top of the governor is double-stamped "J. Phalibois A Paris",the musical movement is stamped "J. Phalibois" on the bedplate,and an ink script on the inside of the base reads "Maitre d'ecole,No.3". Unlike most other makers who used brass cams,Phalibois favored the use of carved wooden cams to program the animations; this may have been an outgrowth of his beginnings in the cartonnage business,deftly using inexpensive materials for ever more elaborate creations.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "The Peasant and His Pig" by Gustave Vichy

Lot #145

34" (86 cm.) A wooden ladder-back chair is resting upon a wooden platform,and posed on the back top rung of the chair is the Peasant,holding a paper-mache pig in his lap,seated as though the pig is a little child. The Peasant has a composition head with exceptional characterization and modeling detail,brown glass eyes,articulated eyelids,articulated bottom lip,painted teeth,original painted finish with ruddy complexion,and brunette mohair wig. He has a carton torso and legs,hinged right hip,and expressively posed fingers,a biscuit held between two fingers. The Peasant wears a rose sateen smock and plaid cotton collar,black and white woolen checkered pants,flannel top hat,and leather shoes (preserved beneath the smock is his original white shirt and aqua silk waist coat). The pig has glass eyes,double-curled tail,artistically painted pigskin,and a movable tongue between open lips. Movements and Music. The Peasant seems to take great delight in teasing his pet piglet. Turning and nodding his head,and blinking his eyelids,he moves his right hand,holding a biscuit,toward the hungry piglet. Just as the piglet leans forward,turning his head and moving his tongue in and out in anticipation of the treat,the Peasant pulls the biscuit away,heaving his shoulders up and down as if laughing,and stomping his foot on the chairseat in delight. The Peasant's lips move all the while,as if he is chattering and teasing the piglet. There are nine animations and two accompanying tunes. The large Vichy clockwork motor powers a mechanism that features five brass cams actuating some six animations of the Peasant and three movements of his pet,as well as the musical unit. Gustave Vichy,Paris,circa 1895. One of his most celebrated models,yet very few are known to exist,this being one of the earliest examples and in fine original state of preservation.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "The Clarion Soldier" by Vichy

Lot #144

19" (48 cm.) A paper-mache structure depicting an early stone fort with towers,wide stairs and a hinged door at the front,is arranged upon a wooden frame. Posed on the roof of the fort as though he has just climbed the stairs is a paper-mache French soldier in full regalia including original silk uniform with brass buttons,kidskin leggings,brown shoes,and bi-corn hat with French rosette medallion. He holds a tassel-trimmed silver bugle. Movements and Music. The soldier appears to sweep the horizon,turning his head from side-to-side,and then,as though needing to sound attention,he brings the bugle to his lips. In synchronized time,several bugle calls emanate from the Lioret wax phonograph cylinder and system hidden inside the fort. To complete the realism,when the soldier lowers his bugle,the bugle sounds end. The cams control not only the soldier's animations,but also the cylinder. The fort is constructed to allow the sound to escape via the open door,side window and open-top tree stump.Vichy,Paris,circa 1895. In conjunction with Henri Lioret who invented the phonograph system. It was Lioret's intention,according to his patent description,to incorporate his design into all sorts of toys and dolls. Accordingly he joined up with Vichy to create this rare piece. The alliance appears to have been short-lived; few examples were ever made. This example has an original brass plaque labeled "Le Soldat au Clarion,Automate du X1X siecle" and appears to be ex-collection Jacques Courtois,as photographed in the book Les Automates (ABC Collection).

Passed

French Automaton "Black Regimental Drummer",Maker Unknown

Lot #143

31" (79 cm.) Standing upon a beveled-edge wooden platform is a paper-mache figure depicting a man with rich ebony black complexion,brown glass eyes,articulated eye lids,hinged jaw with painted teeth,black fleecy hair,unusually thick cartonnage body,and carved wooden hands with original ebony complexion to match the face. He is wearing a blue flannel regimental uniform with black shoes and buttoned white spats,matching blue cap,and holding two black drumsticks and a large brass drum that is supported by a neck cord. Movements. Moving his head in a rolling nodding manner,he blinks his eyelids and opens and closes his mouth as though calling marching orders. He drum rolls rat-a-tat-tat with both hands. Maker unknown,probably French,circa 1890. The heavy clockwork mechanism was originally triggered into action by a compression-pad (now absent) that was located in the mid-chest area. Once tapped,the mechanism would start,with the "drumming time" controlled by an iron cam that surrounds the mainspring barrel. The original mechanism,excepting the compression pad,is still intact and operating now by means of winding key. The figure was likely designed as window-attraction piece or as arcade amusement.

Passed

Early and Very Fine French Louis XVI Carillon Clock with Marching Sentry by Courtin

Lot #142

18" (46 cm.) An ornate clock flanked by marble columns is resting upon a marble base with two inset Wedgewood medallions,and having contoured ends and elaborate cast brass fretwork surround. Below the clock face is a figural cherubic motif that reflects the medallion. At the crest is a Moorish guard bearing a flag,bordered by a railing of scroll-style filigreed cast brass. The enameled porcelain clock face and chapter ring bear dual-style numerals that indicate the given hour,the minute,the day of the month and the phase of the moon. Movement and Music. On the hour,the music is tripped into play and the sentry marches across the terrace,turning at each side before continuing his rounds. There are 12 bright melodies issuing from a fusee-driven movement with 9 original saucer bells and 12 hammers. The music is spirally pinned onto a 6" x 1_" diameter brass cylinder. The clock,having an unusual dual-train design with silk thread suspension,is wound from the front,and the carillon from the side. Courtin of Cambray,France,late 18th century. Also,a signature can be partially seen on the brass cylinder,possibly Borrell.

Passed

Important Early European Carved Wooden Mechanical Drummer on Pedestal

Lot #141

69" (175 cm.) including pedestal. 39" man. Posed upon a wooden cabinet is a highly characterized man holding a drumstick in each hand and a drum suspended from his shoulders. The man has a loosely jointed carved wooden head and hands,featuring movable blue glass eyes,carved tousled hair,exaggerated nose,very defined age and gaunt features,two warts,closed mouth,and highlighted by an oil-painted ruddy and soot-smudged complexion. His torso,arms and legs are of heavy paper-mache over a cast metal armature for strength,and his hands and feet are carved wood. The man wears an early costume,comprising velvet jacket,silk vest with trapunto stitching and velvet pants. His shoes and stockings are sculpted and painted. Movement. He nods and turns his head,while his eyes move back and forth. He beats the drum,each arm moving independently from the other,although in synchronism. The movement is prolonged. European,probably late 18th/early 19th century,the highly stylistic carving is in the manner of Neopolitan figures of the late 18th century. The large size of the piece suggests its purpose as an exhibition model,as does the repetitive drumming action that would certainly serve to attract the passer-by. Ex-collection,the noted Himalayan mountain climber,Paul Gendre.

Passed

Very Rare and Early French Musical Scene Animee "Stone Masons Building the Cathedral"

Lot #140

28" (71 cm.) Presented upon an ebony-finished tall wooden base with gilt-pencil-striping inlay is a highly animated scene of stone-cutters working on the construction of a splendid Gothic-style Cathedral. The Cathedral itself is constructed of heavy card with painted bricks and marble on front and sides,and having applied richly ornamented and gilded spires,arches,windows,towers,and other architectural details. A ladder reaches to an upper tower,and at the side is a tall two-story scaffolding indicating the site of work in progress; one inanimate wooden figure is posed on the scaffolding. The foreground scene comprises six carved wooden figures,stonemasons,having finely carved and painted features,and original cloth costumes. Centered on the Cathedral is a working clock with porcelain with Roman numerals and skeletal pointers; it is a seven day movement with silk thread suspension,original suspension,and replaced bell with nickel-washed surface,striking on the hour and the half-hour. The entire scene is beautifully preserved under its original tall flat-sided glass dome with painted interior scene of sky,clouds and forest (some flaking of sky paint,old repair at bottom back).Movements and Music. Five workman furiously work at their crafts,chiseling,sawing,carving and finishing,each posed with the work object in hand,and suitable tool. The animation and music are driven by a separate clockwork motor with five wooden wheels bearing steel peg "spokes" acting as the individual cams directing the movement of each workman. There are five animations and one tune. Maker unknown,circa 1825. The clock bears the maker's stamp "L.Marti et Cie". Animated diorama scenes were made by skilled artisans,often on special commission,to commemorate significant occasions or simply as a remembrance of an event or a location. These ranged from the simple sand toy scenes such as those created by Pierre Landras of Paris,circa 1800,to the highly animated clockwork Scenes of Daily Life in Old Basel by Emil Wick,circa 1880. A similar model to the present example is in the Murtogh Guinness Collection at the Morris Museum except featuring carpenters rather than stone masons. This present example is outstanding for its superb artistry and realistic animation. The fine quality of clock indicates further its luxury origins.

Passed

French Automaton "The Flower Peddler" by Gustave Vichy

Lot #139.1

12" (30 cm.) A bisque-headed doll with swivel head on bisque shoulder plate,and having amber-tinted complexion,has large brown glass eyes,closed mouth and brunette mohair wig,She has a carton torso and lower legs,articulated hips,bisque forearms in same amber tinted complexion,and is wearing a lovely silk and lace dress,and woven bonnet. The lady peddler is pushing a woven urn-shaped basket filled with silk flowers,that is attached to its original base with metal spoked wheels.Movement: Briskly walking along,the lady pushes the cart,as though offering flowers for sale. Gustave Vichy,circa 1875,with rare early facial model and beautiful quality of bisque,appealing presentation of the early simple,yet luxury mechanical toy.

Passed

German "Polyphon" Music Box by Polyphon Musikwerke

Lot #139

21" (53 cm.) w. x 25"h. with lid open x 18"d. Presented in a walnut-veneered wooden case with floral inlay design at the center of the lid and a cherubic lid image on the inside is a single-comb music box that plays 15 1/2" diameter tune discs. Included are 15 adaptable Regina tune discs. Polyphon Musikwerke,Leipzeig,Germany,circa 1895. Although this model was designed for use in the home,Polyphon became very successful with building coin-operated variants. One of its founders,Gustave Brachhausen,later moved to the United States to found the Regina company.

Passed

American "Criterion" Music Box by Otto & Sons

Lot #138

22" (56 cm.) w. x 27"h. with lid open x 20"d. Presented in a handsome,lightly finished carved mahogany cabinet with cherubic image on the inside lid is a single-comb music box with one 15 1/2" zinc tune disc. F.G. Otto & Sons,New Jersey,United States,circa 1896. The firm is thought to have been the original supplier of carved wooden cabinets to The Regina Music Box Company. Thus having witnessed first-hand the success of Regina,the F.G. Otto firm decided to also enter the music box business. They sold the Criterion brand mainly through M.J. Paillard by New York. Although Regina sued the firm for patent infringement,Otto continued to make several brands in several case styles and for varying-sized discs. These ventures were short-lived,making the existing examples today of relative rarity.

Passed

American Disc Music Box by Regina

Lot #137

Presented in a handsomely-carved mahogany cabinet with signature picture of the Regina "Queen" surrounded by cherubs on the inside lid,is a double-comb music box with forty 15 1/2" diameter tune discs. Regina,style 11,American,circa 1898. From 1892 Regina manufactured from rented facilities in Jersey City,but by 1895 they had resettled in their own factory facilities in Rahway,New Jersey. The brick building where this example was built is still standing,facing the Rahway train station which facilitated the shipment of the pieces during their heyday. Regina promoted their brand as "The Queen of Music Boxes" and maintained sales shops in New York and Chicago,but they also sold their products through department stores,such as John Wanamaker in Philadelphia. This present example has been in the same family since it was built.

Passed

Swiss Musical Box with Unconventional 10-Tune Program

Lot #136

19" (48 cm.) In an ebonized wooden case with glass inner lid and tune indicator is a 10-tune cylinder music box with 34-note comb. On the inside lid is a colorful tune program card titled "timbres" in recognition of the three bells that accompany the comb. The tunes,listed in English,include typical music hall fare such as The Geisha and Sweet Marie,but also include a litany of stereotypical black-subject songs of the late 19th century. Swiss,maker unknown,circa 1900.

Passed

Swiss Musical Box "Flute Voix Celeste",Attributed to Bremond

Lot #135

25" (64 cm.) w. x 9"h. with lid open x 10"d. In a very handsome,beveled wooden case with rosewood veneer and inlaid banding on the top and the front,and decorated with a marquetry floral medallion on the lid and a similar design with winged cherubs centering the front,is a musical movement consisting of a 14" cylinder playing upon a 67-note musical comb with a bank of 17 reeds. The box has a protective glass inner lid with a carved and ebonized fretted acoustic panel at the rear to let the sounds of the reeds out. Attributed to Bremond,Geneva,Switzerland,circa 1870. The title Flute Voix Celeste,meaning "heavenly voices" was given over to music boxes to which were added freely vibrating reeds for a flute effect.

Passed

Swiss Six-tune Cylinder Musical Box,Possibly Tharins

Lot #134

4 1/2" (11 cm.) x 3 1/2" x 3". Enclosed in a fine walnut case with beautifully crafted veneered edging on the lid and a copper shield inlay,the musical box hinges open to reveal a beveled glass protective lid and original program card listing six tunes including Home Sweet Home,Silver Threads Among the Gold,Those Evening Bells,Meeting of the Waters,Grandfather's Clock and Blue Bells of Scotland. There is a 3" brass cylinder,brass bedplate and Geneva stop. Swiss,maker uncertain,possibly early Tharins,early 20th century.

Passed

Swiss Eight-Tune Musical Box with Bells,Drum and Dancing Dolls

Lot #133

25" (64 cm.) w. x 24"h. with lid opened x 15"d. In a wooden box with finely grained veneer and banding on the top and front,the lid and front with musical motif designs which is inlaid on the lid of exotic woods,is a Swiss cylinder movement playing 8 tunes from a nickel-plated,6"cylinder on a 35-note musical comb with a strike for each of the 3 saucer bells,5 drum beaters,and activation for the two dancing dolls. The start/stop and tune-change controls are approachable after opening the glass inner lid,and there is a detachment lever for retraction of the drum beaters at will. Swiss,maker unknown,circa 1900. A lovely decorative music box with the added entertainment feature of dancing miniature dolls.

Passed

Early French Musical "Gliding Lady with Mandolin" by Theroude

Lot #132

14" (36 cm.) Standing upon a tinplate-over-wooden-frame base with original painted finish to simulate ground-cover,is a lady with wax-over-paper-mache head,blue enamel eyes,closed mouth,painted features,original wig in elaborately arranged braids and curls and decorated with cascading pearls. She has a shapely carton torso and legs,and paper-mache hands whose fingers and wrists are sculpted to realistically pluck at mandolin strings. Wearing her original coral and ivory satin gown with matching bonnet and appliqued gilt paper and Alencon lace trim. Her original wooden mandolin has hand-painted decorations. Movements and Music. The lady glides forward,than turns to one side or the other,pauses,circles and glides again,all the while turning her head side-to-side and strumming the mandolin. The gliding movement occurs from three hidden brass wheels below the base. Theroude,Paris,circa 1850. There are two original brass labels on the base,"Theroude Paris" and "Brevete SGDG" indicating that Theroude had deposed his design.

Passed

French Musical Scene Animee "Concert in the Garden Room" by Phalibois

Lot #131

26" (66 cm.) Arranged upon an ebonized wooden oval base,under a glass dome with painted scenic background,are two paper-mache figures,a lady seated at a heavy card piano with paper cover to simulate rosewood,and a gentleman with violin,his violin case at his side. A dimensional card paper background depicts a garden scene with patio wall that matches the scene on the glass dome. Both people are posed,ready to begin the concert. Each has painted features,enamel eyes,slightly parted lips,teeth,mohair wig,carton torso,metal hands,and wearing original frail silk costumes with gilded paper trim. Movements and Music. The lady moves her fingers over the keyboard,turning her head from side-to-side as though following her finger movement,and occasionally nodding. The gentleman strums the violin with the bow in his left hand,and with his right hand he also turns the violin to and fro in a realistic manner,his head turning side-to-side synchronically. Musical tunes play. Attributed to Phalibois,Paris,circa 1865.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Singing Birds in a Tree" with Bronze Base by Bontems

Lot #130

27" (69 cm.) Arranged upon the velvet-covered surface of a cast bronze urn with elaborate raised designs,four hinged carrying handles,and stylized raised feet are tree branches whose leaves are actually mother-of-pearl shells. Posed in the center is a multi-colored mechanical bird and on other branches there are three other sedentary colorful feathered birds. The bird turns its head side-to-side and,independently,flutters its tail. Its beak opens and closes,and it tweets,trills and chirps with lovely melodious sounds. Bontems,Paris,circa 1880,with original plaque "Ch. Bontems,Fabricant,Rue de Clery 72,Paris". A rare presentation by the maker,both in the use of the bronze urn and in the use of mother-of-pearl tree leaves,clearly designed for the luxury trade. An interesting anecdote related in the 1867 book,Les Jouets by Henri Nicole tells that the Paris Opera Comique had contemplated creating a forest illusion with Bontems' birds for their upcoming Robinson Crusoe opera by Offenbach,so realistic and charming were these creations.

Passed

American/Swiss Musical Box as Grand Piano by Zimbalist

Lot #129

13" (33 cm.) h. with lid open,x 15"l. x 9 1/2" w. A grand piano with ornately engraved case of silver-plated brass with extremely fancy scrollwork contains a 30-note Thorens musical movement. The piano lid opens to reveal both the musical movement and a compartment for storing the extra tune discs of which there are 15 in fair to good condition. The inside of the hinged piano lid features an engraved mosque with minarets and the piano also has a hinged fallboard above the piano keyboard.Fred Zimbalist,Cleveland,Ohio,circa 1965 employing a Thorens disc musical movement by Melodies,S.A. of Switzerland. Zimbalist promoted the face that no two of his music boxes were alike. He commissioned his cases from artists in India who were left with no other instructions than to create a special article into which musical movements of given dimensions could be mounted. According to his literature,the pieces were "purely handmade,untouched by machines. The casting process is done in hand-prepared sand molds,turning on hand-driven lathes. The engraving is done with fine,chisel-like tools and wooden hammers. Finally,the art piece is polished with woolen puffs until the pieces glitter like gold."

Passed

French Musical Waltzing Couple with Theroude Signature

Lot #128

12" (30 cm.) A pair of dolls,representing an adult man and woman,each with wax-over-paper-mache head and glass enamel eyes,are posed as though to begin a formal dance,their hands in classic backward pose. The woman has closed mouth and her original human hair wig in elaborately braided coiffure,while the gentleman has a sculpted moustache and goatee. Each is wearing its original frail silk costume. Movement and Music. Although they appear to be standing on the floor,in actuality a cone-shaped form,hidden under the woman's skirt,not only supports both figures,but also contains the mechanical works. The man is attached to the metal cone by a heavy metal rod. They twirl around and around,then glide forward on the three wheels hidden at the bottom of the cone form. Two tunes play. Alexandre Theroude,Paris,circa 1850,the metal cone bears his signature and "Brevete SGDG" indicating that he had registered the design. Ex-collection Christian Bailly.

Passed

American Musical "The Mechanical Piano Player" by Secor

Lot #127

Appearing to be seated at keyboard of a faux-rosewood metal piano with metal keys filigree musical rack is a bisque-head lady with blue glass eyes,painted features,closed mouth,metal torso,wearing her original flowing gown designed to hide the design fact that her arms are attached at her waist and that she is legless.Movements and Music. Her hands glide in a realistic manner over the keys as the music plays,her head turning from side-to-side and her body swaying gracefully. A Swiss cylinder musical movement is concealed inside the piano itself. Jerome B. Secor,Connecticut,circa 1880. The American inventor,founder of the Secor Sewing Machine C,manufacturer of early typewriters and the Secor mechanical singing bird which he exhibited at the 1873 International Exposition in Vienna,turned to the distraction of creating mechanical toys when the financial panic of 1876 destroyed his business. Serendipitously,he shared a duplex home with Charles Ives,the toy maker who encouraged Secor in the design of mechanical musical objects,highlighted by the present object that Secor named the Mechanical Piano Player.

Passed

French Paper-mache Mechanical "Girl with Flowers" Attributed to Theroude

Lot #126

11" (28 cm.) Arranged upon a painted tin metal platform with three spoked wheels is a girl with paper-mache swivel head,enamel eyes,nicely painted features,slightly parted lips,double row of teeth,blonde mohair wig,paper-mache torso and legs,kid arms with separated fingers. She is wearing an early simple green silk dress with cap and carries a small bouquet of flowers.Movements. The wheeled hidden platform glides forward and in circles,while the girl turns her head briskly from side-to-side and moves her arms up and down. Attributed to Theroude,Paris,circa 1850.

Passed

Superb French Bisque Mechanical Waltzing Lady by Jules Steiner

Lot #125

15" (38 cm.) A lady with bisque swivel head on bisque shoulder plate,blue glass enamel inset eyes,painted lashes,slightly parted lips with two rows of teeth,pierced ears,blonde mohair wig over cork pate,kid-over-paper-mache upper torso and cone-shaped lower firm in the shape of a full-length skirt. bisque arms from above the elbows. The lady is wearing her original white muslin gown with elaborately trimmed details and long train,watch,blue earrings. Movements. When wound,she glides forward,turns,pauses,glides in another direction,and twirls. The various dancing/gliding actions are repeated in a series of varying sequence. The movements proceed on three small hidden wheels protruding from the underbase of the skirt form. Jules Steiner,circa 1865,the waltzing lady was deposed by him,and made for a period of years with variations in the facial model. This,an early example,is in pristine condition,and includes its original wooden packing box.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "The Waltzing Gentleman and Lady" by Gustave Vichy

Lot #124

13" (33 cm.) Posed in a formal manner as though waiting for the dance to begin are a pair of bisque-headed dolls,each with blue glass threaded eyes,closed mouth,delicately painted features,pierced ears,and original blonde mohair wig,the woman with bisque shoulder plate,and bisque arms that are uniquely sculpted for this model,positioned in formal dance manner,the man with metal hands. The woman's long ball gown is given shape by the metal cone-shaped form over which it falls,and which contains the mechanism. The man appears to be standing on the floor,but is actually balanced on a metal rod from the woman's torso. Each is re-costumed in rich silk satin and lace; the wigs and coiffure style are original,as is the man's stockings with soutache embroidery. Movements and Music. The couple twirl about in a graceful waltz,then glide forward,then pause and reverse their action,conducting an elegant and formal waltz. Two musical tunes play,Roses Valse,and Les Dragons d. Villars (other word illegible). Gustave Vichy,circa 1870,with superb early portrait bisque faces,elegant modeling of hands,elaborate original coiffures. The dolls were uniquely constructed with skirt form to accommodate the mechanism in a hidden fashion.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Little Girl Playing with Polichinelle" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #123

19" (48 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered platform is a bisque-headed doll with blue glass eyes,mohair lashes,open mouth,teeth,nicely painted features,blonde mohair wig,carton torso and legs,bisque forearms. She is wearing her original aqua green silk dress with silver bead trim and matching bonnet,and is holding a pocket watch in one hand,and her silk costumed toy Polichinelle in the other. Movements and Music. She turns her head side-to-side and nods,alternately lifting her right arm to check the time,and then lifting her left arm as though to display her favorite toy. She drops the Polichinelle abruptly. There is one tune,Amour & Printemps,according to the original paper tune label. Leopold Lambert,Paris,circa 1890,the doll is marked "1300-6 dep Paris". The simple motions are enhanced by beautiful original presentation.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Little Girl at her Dressing Table" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #122

19" (48 cm.) Arranged upon a velvet-covered base is a charming scene depicting a bisque-headed doll standing behind her lace-covered dressing table. The girl has blue glass eyes,open mouth,nicely painted features,brunette mohair wig,carton torso and legs,bisque forearms (one thumb chipped). She is wearing rose and ivory sateen dress and ivory satin bonnet,and holds a puff and mirror in her left hand. The dressing table has hinged beveled mirror,lace skirt and silk cover and contains assorted toiletries.Movements and Music. The girl turns her head side-to-side and nods to look into the mirror that she extends while lifting her left hand. Meanwhile her right hand appears to dab her cheeks with the powder puff. Her eyes open and close in unison with her head nod. Two tunes are played. Leopold Lambert,Paris,circa 1895. the doll is marked "1300-6". From a series of charming vignette scenes presented by the firm toward the end of the century.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Little Girl at Tea Table with Cat and Mouse" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #121

21" (53 cm.) Arranged upon a velvet-covered wooden platform is a charming scene featuring a bisque-head girl seated at a tea-table. The girl has blue glass eyes,painted features,open mouth,blonde mohair wig,carton torso,separately hinged legs,bisque forearms and is wearing a pretty cotton dress and bonnet,and holding a milk saucer in one hand and a felt ball in the other. She sits behind a table on which is arranged a bowl of fruit,and a little grey tabby kitten. A mouse is on the ground. Movements and Music. The little girl leans her head forward as the cat advances across the table to the bowl of milk that she is offering to her,But the milk is a tease,because the little girl lifts the bowl away just as the cat reaches it. She then teases the cat with the felt ball in her left hand. Her eyes open and close. Occasionally,she lifts both feet off the ground as a little mouse scampers across the floor. Music plays,according to the paper tune label there are two tunes,one being Petit Papa. Leopold Lambert,Paris,1900.

Passed

Very Rare 19th Century Musical Automaton "Polichinelle and the Dancing Dolls"

Lot #120

40" (102 cm.) h. x 28"w. x 17"d. A box-shaped wooden case with painted and stencilled designs has double front door designed to pop open when the center "target" pin is struck; a fold-down door at the bottom gives access to the mechanical and musical works. Inside,is a fanciful scene with painted walls and curtains centered by a large seated Polichinelle with violin surrounded by three dancing couples (six dolls). Polichinelle has well-sculpted paper-mache head with blue glass eyes,articulated eyelids,artfully painted features,mohair periwig,carton torso and legs,paper-mache hands,and is wearing superb silk costume,striped stockings,upturned-toe slippers,and lavish bicorn hat. The dolls have bisque heads with glass eyes,closed mouth,mohair wigs,original silk costumes. Movements and Music. When the metal bullseye target on the door is struck,the doors release simultaneously,rather like the opening of a stage curtain,and the action begins. Polichinelle both nods and turns his head side-to-side,blinks both eyelids,and plays his violin with bow arm moving both up-and-down and to-and-fro in a most realistic manner. The couples twirl about as though dancing. The interior clockwork motor,of heavy iron and brass construct with main drive shaft carrying a large wooden pulley (which animates all the dancers as well as music) and six wooden cams that control all of Polichinelle's movements,is wound at the front. Music plays.Maker unknown,circa 1885. the animated "surprise" display,possibly early traveling carnival amusement is very rare,especially as it retains original painted decorations,inside and out,and imaginative presentation of figures.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "The Gentleman Smoker" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #119

22" (56 cm.) Posed upon a velvet-covered wooden platform is a bisque-head gentleman with brown glass inset eyes,slightly parted lips,painted facial features,brown mohair wig over cork pate,slender elongated carton torso and legs,bisque forearms,and wearing a fine silk satin green suit with yellow satin lapels and cuffs,ivory fitted vest and pleated shirt front,bow-tie,tall hat,painted black stockings,silk shoes,and fancy fob. He is holding a cigarette holder in his right hand (two fingers re-glued). Movements and Music. Turning his head side-to-side,he inclines it forward while lifting the cigarette holder to his lips and inhaling and then exhaling. The smoking illusion is created by hidden internal rubber tubing and bellows. Music plays.Leopold Lambert,Paris,circa 1890,the doll is marked "Depose Tete Jumeau Bte SGDG 3". The automaton was described in the Lambert catalog as model 23bis Petit Marquis Fumeur.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Little Girl Training Puppy with Hoop" by Renou

Lot #118

17" (43 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden platform with wooden ball feet is a bisque-headed doll with blue glass eyes,slightly parted lips,teeth,nicely painted features,brunette mohair wig,and silk and lace costume. She holds a biscuit in one hand and a hoop in the other. In front is a wooden balancing stool,and a paper-mache dog posed on back feet with extended front paws. Movements and Music. The girl lifts the hoop several times as if urging the puppy to jump through. Ignoring the hoop,he waits until the girl lifts her other hand,offering the biscuit. Then he inclines forward,extending paws,all the while his little tail,peeking from beneath his skirt,is wagging excitedly back and forth. Music plays.Louis Renou,Paris,circa 1895 with bisque head by Jumeau.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "The Marquis Smoker" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #117

23" (58 cm.) Standing upon a rose velvet-recovered platform is a man with bisque head (chip and hairline at right side of head),blue glass paperweight inset eyes,painted features,slightly parted lips,blonde mohair wig,very slender elongated carton torso and shapely legs,bisque hands,holding a cigarette holder in his right hand,and a hankie in his left. The man is recostumed in a beautifully detailed rose satin jacket with tails,pantaloons,silk vest with metallic edging,lace jabot,knit stockings,rose satin shoes and ivory silk tricorn hat. Movements and Music. Turning his head from side-to-side and nodding,he draws the cigarette holder to the lips,inhales,turns toward his left and lifts the hankie while exhaling,appearing to brush away the smoke. Music plays. Leopold Lambert,Paris,circa 1890.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Little Girl with Trick Mouse" by Renou

Lot #116

16" (41 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden platform with wooden ball feet is a bisque-headed girl with blue glass paperweight inset eyes,closed mouth,beautifully painted features,blonde mohair wig over cork pate,carton torso and legs,bisque forearms,and original bronze-green silk costume with lace trim. She stands behind a wooden pedestal table with gold cover on which is arranged a tinplate mouse trap with hinged door and a little mouse. Movements and Music. As the music plays,the young girl raises and lowers her arms alternately,her right hand using the stick to direct the mouse in and out of the trap,while her left hand lifts and lowers the trap door. She raises and lowers her head to alternately look at the audience or her trick mouse. The mouse moves hesitantly and then scampers. Music plays.Louis Renou,Paris,circa 1900. The charming vignette with simple mechanical movements seems more a decoration than a play thing. In fact,in a 1905 patent Renou wrote "When a child is given an automaton as a gift,as a rule it is not turned over to the child for play,but is rather placed on a mantel,or on some other piece of furniture where it is wound up and set in motion by adults. It is actually an item of home furnishing or decoration and not a toy".

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Little Girl with Polichinelle" by Renou

Lot #115

16" (41 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden base with wooden ball feet,is a bisque-head doll with blue glass eyes,painted features,closed mouth,blonde mohair wig,carton torso and legs,bisque forearms. She is wearing her original frail rose satin dress with ivory trim and matching bonnet,and she holds the string to a small bisque Polichinelle in one hand in which also holds the arm broken from that figure,and a hankie in the other. The Polichinelle is costumed in traditional two-color silk jester suit with matching hat. Movements and Music. The little girl contemplates her broken favorite toy,the classic Polichinelle,holding the ripped-off arm in her hand while he lies on the floor below her. Seeking to rescue the toy,she raises her left arm and Polichinelle slightly raises from the attached string,she holds but then lowers again when her arm lowers. She bows her head,and lifts the hankie to her eyes three times,as though to wipe away the tears. Music plays. Louis Renou,Paris,circa 1900,the doll is marked "F.G." in scroll shape.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Lady with Lorgnette and Fan" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #114

17" (43 cm.) Standing upon a golden textured velvet-covered platform is a bisque head lady with blue glass paperweight inset eyes,closed mouth,lovely painted features,pierced ears,blonde mohair wig,having bisque shoulder plate attached to carton torso with defined female shape,slender paper-mache legs,bisque forearms. She is wearing her original ivory silk and lace dress with low-cut bodice and defined waist,slippers,bonnet,and is holding a silk fan and an elaborate gilded ormolu lorgnette. Movement and Music. She inclines her head to the left,slightly glancing upward,while lifting the lorgnette to gaze more closely at some nearby scene. Then,perhaps a bit scandalized by what she has seen,the lady turns to the right,and lifts her fan,briskly fanning herself six times. One tune is heard,"Mandolinata",according to the original paper tune on the base. Music and movements function well. Leopold Lambert,circa 1890,the automata is unusual in that it depicts an adult lady rather than a child. The head is marked "Depose Tete Jumeau Bte SGDG 1" and was created by Jumeau for Lambert. The elegant,yet amusing,vignette scene is similar to a larger paper-mache model of ladies on a park bench created by Vichy/Triboulet some years later.

Passed

French Automaton "Two Singing Birds in Cage" by Bontems

Lot #113

20" (51 cm.) Within a wooden framed metal bird cage with gold-leaf finish on the base and a brass carrying loop,are presented two merrily singing birds serenading each other. Perched on a brass rail wrapped with green leaves is a red feathered bird,while nearby on the ground is a smaller bird with exquisite green irridescent feathering. The birds alternate in their song,each with chirps and twittering,and each independently moving their tail feathers and heads. The bird song is prolonged and most pleasing.Attributed to Bontems,circa 1885. The wonderful quality of the performing birds and their songs,calling to each other,is enhanced by detail of cage with sculpted floral and vine designs.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Young Girl with Flowers"

Lot #112

19" (48 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered platform is a bisque-head girl with brown glass paperweight eyes,closed mouth,beautifully painted features,pierced ears,blonde mohair wig over cork pate,carton torso and legs,bisque forearms,silk costume and bonnet. She is holding flowers in one hand and a mirror in the other. Movements and Music. She turns her head side-to-side,alternately lifting her arms and sniffing flowers or gazing in the mirror.French,circa 1890,with bisque head by Jumeau,the bisque head marked "Depose Tete Jumeau Bte SGDG 4". A pleasant automaton with dainty action and sweet tune. The doll is authentically re-costumed in antique fabrics.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "L'Incroyable" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #111

24" (61 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden platform in a very stylized foppish manner is a bisque-head man with movable blue glass eyes,open mouth,row of teeth,painted features,brunette mohair wig,very slender elongated torso and legs,and bisque forearms. He is holding a ribbon-wrapped cane in his right hand,and an elaborate gilded ormolu lorgnette in his left hand. He is wearing a very elaborate fashionable costume comprising black satin tailcoat with ivory lining,floral printed silk waistcoat,silk fitted pants with peculiar (worn) lace cover,black leggings,silk slippers,and black top hat.Movements and Music. He stands proudly,as though displaying his fashionable attire for all to see,then turns his head side-to-side,nods and,in an unusual movement,opens and closes his eyes. He alternately lifts his cane,and then his lorgnette to his blinking eyes,perhaps astonished that another passer-by is attired in a finer costume. Two tunes play,according to the original paper tune label listing Dollar Princess and Ct. de Luxembourg Valse No.1. Leopold Lambert,circa 1895,with bisque head marked "1159 Germany Simon & Halbig (6),and representing L'Incroyable,a fashionable movement of the late 18th century in which rebellious young men appeared in highly exaggerated and outrageous costume,such as the lace pants on this example. Known as Les Incroyables (the incredible ones),the name came to signify the entire rebellious movement of the time.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Young Girl With Toy Theatre" Attributed to Gustave Vichy

Lot #110

24" (61 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden platform is a bisque-head doll holding a toy theatre with two bisque performers in her left hand and a third small bisque performer in her other hand. The girl has blue glass paperweight inset eyes,closed mouth,applied pierced ears,beautifully painted features,brunette human hair over cork pate,carton torso and legs,composition lower arms. She is wearing burgundy silk bebe dress and matching bonnet with Alencon lace. The bisque performers have sculpted hair and painted facial features,muslin bodies and original folklore style costumes.Movements and Music. The little girl proudly displays her favorite toy,a little miniature theatre. Then turning side-to-side to capture attention of on-lookers,she demonstrates for all to see. Nodding forward,she twists her wrist back and forth causing the little dolls to dance in a puppet-like action. She then moves her right arm toward the theatre as if wishing to add another doll to the performance,then pauses,reconsidering. The act goes on. Music plays. Attributed to Gustave Vichy,Paris,circa 1885,with bisque head marked "Tete Jumeau Bte SGDG 8". The extremely rare model was considered in the luxury class,offered in the 1884 Etrennes catalog of the Paris Au Louvre store at 290 frances,about 10 times the price of a luxury doll in the same catalog. Few examples are known to exist.In a late 19th century photograph of the Baker-Troll showroom in Geneva,Switzerland,featuring luxury floor-standing music boxes,two automata are also displayed; this model is one of the two.

Passed

Very Beautiful French Musical Automaton "Ballerina Pirouetting" by Roullet & Decamps

Lot #109

23" (58 cm.) Posed en pointe upon a velvet-covered large wooden platform is a ballerina with bisque head,blue glass paperweight inset eyes,closed mouth,beautifully-painted features,brunette mohair wig,and having a shapely lady torso with bisque shoulder plate,long slender shapely legs,bisque forearms. She is wearing her superb original silk and lace ballerina costume ornamented with soutache designs that are repeated on her knit stockings,floral coronet,silk ballet slippers. Movements and Music. Pirouetting en pointe,she moves her left leg forward and backward in elegant sweeps,while inclining her upper torso side-to-side and moving arms up and down. The movements are graceful and realistic,capturing classic ballet poses. Music plays. Roullet et Decamps,circa 1890,with bisque head from Emile Jumeau,marked "Depose Tete Jumeau Bte SGDG 3". The popular ballet theme was developed into automaton themes by several makers. This example exquisitely captures the elegant movements and is enhanced by superb and very elaborate original costume.

Passed

Rare French Musical Automaton "The Singing Lesson" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #108

26" (66 cm.) Arranged upon a green velvet-covered wooden base is a singing master,posed with baton before an ebony wooden music stand and his female singer who is poised,ready for her performance. He has paper-mache head,brown glass eyes,articulated eyelids,hinged jaw,fleecy brown mohair wig,mohair moustache and is wearing a black satin tailcoat with blue lining,embroidered waistcoat,gold silk breeches and gilt fob. She has a bisque portrait-like head,bisque shoulder plate,blue glass paperweight eyes,closed mouth,pierced ears,blonde mohair wig,and is wearing a lovely silk gown and having silk flower coronet. Movement and Music. The persons move independently and yet in synchronic action to each other. The singing master takes charge,turning from side-to-side,and inclining his head as though to read the sheet music. Keeping time with the baton in his right hand,he directs the singer with his left,while blinking and moving his mouth as though to encourage the singer. All the while,she turns from side-to-side,then raises the book of sheet music she is holding,and leans backward as though ready to raise her voice in song. The realism is enhance by double articulation of each arm and 12 different animations provided by 8 cams and large 2-airs cylinder movement. Leopold Lambert,circa 1890,likely created under special commission. The luxury automaton-vignette appears to be a companion to Lambert's "The Conversation" (Monaco Museum) in which the same paper-mache gentleman and his lovely bisque-headed lady companion are seated together on a bench. No other examples of "The Singing Lesson" are known to exist.

Passed

Very Rare and Original French Bisque Portrait "Marquis Smoker" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #107

24" (61 cm.) Posed upon a velvet-covered wooden platform is a bisque-head gentleman with highly characterized facial model,having elongated slender face,high forehead,and aquiline nose with jaunty upturned point. He has mohair periwig,glass eyes,very slightly parted lips,and theatrically-painted complexion tones,and he is wearing his original silk Marquis costume with gilt metallic edging and tricorn matching hat. In one hand he holds a cigarette holder,and in the other a small handkerchief. Movements. Lifting his head,he then inclines it forward to inhale from the cigarette brought to his lips. He leans his head backward in satisfaction,turns side-to-side,and then exhales,while lifting his kerchief as though to brush smoke away. The smoking movements operate via a series of rubber tubing and bellows hidden inside his body and arm,and made available through the slightly open mouth. Leopold Lambert,Paris,circa 1900. The facial model,unique and highly characterized with impish expression and enhancing original complexion,is designed with slightly open mouth to enable the smoking system. Another very rare example of the facial model,Marquis Bubble blower,which also requires inner tube/bellows system appears in this catalog,#28.

Passed

French Bisque Musical Automaton "Elegant Lady Reclining on Recamier" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #106

19" (48 cm.) h. seated upright x 24"l. x 12"w. Posed in a refined and elegant manner upon a silk-covered wooden-framed recamier with fringed decorations and velvet pillow,is a bisque-head lady. She has a bisque portrait face with slender and elongated facial modeling,aquiline and upturned nose,blue glass paperweight eyes,closed mouth,and fine painting of features. Her brunette mohair wig is arranged in upswept coiffure of the era,and she wears a sheer muslin ruffled over-dress on green silk satin,trimmed with red silk ribbons over her shapely elongated carton torso and slender legs daintily crossed at the ankles. The square-cut neckline of her gown is designed to show her separately modelled shapely bisque bosom to advantage. Movements and Music. As though welcoming a visitor to her salon,the elegant lady turns and nods her head,appearing to arise,while alternately fanning herself with her right hand,and dabbing her face with the handkerchief held in her left hand. She pauses,and then reclines again,evidently having satisfied the social demands of her high station. Music plays. The movements are actuated by three brass cams plus two steel stud-cams within the clockwork mechanism,the movement having attached L.B. winding key.Leopold Lambert,circa 1890,with bisque portrait head commissioned from Emile Jumeau. The Jumeau head,a very rare luxury model from that firm,affirms the luxury nature of the piece,as does its rarity; few other examples of this automaton are known to exist . A variation of the lady in recamier was shown in the Roullet et Decamps catalog,although it was only half the size of this luxury example.

Passed

French Automaton "Family of Four Singing Birds in Cage" by Bontems

Lot #105

20" (51 cm.) A round brass bird cage on a gilt wooden base encloses a scene of an entire bird family,all in natural plumage of scarlet and black. A brass ringlet at the top of the cage offers the options of either displaying the cage on a table or suspending the cage from overhead. Movements and Song. The larger father bird is perched on a brass bar and warbles his birdsong while turning his head,twittering his beak and fluttering his tail,presumably warding off predators. Meanwhile,the mother bird,perched on a twig,lowers her head intermittently to feed her young twin baby birds,who are nestled in a basket at the floor of the cage. In response,the young birds raise up,vying to grab the fare,with which the mother bird teases them. There are five vivid and realistic animations,and birdsong. Charles Bontems,circa 1885. A plaque with the maker's name is affixed to the underside of the cage.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Little Girl with her Toys" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #104

15" (38 cm.) x 13" x 13". Seated upon a wooden platform with tapestry carpet is a bisque-head doll with blue glass eyes,mohair lashes,open mouth,porcelain teeth,blonde mohair wig,carton torso and lower legs,and bisque arms. She is wearing her original aqua silk dress with lace collar and hem trimmed with silver beads,matching bonnet,and is holding a little all-bisque doll in matching costume in her left hand,while in her right hand she holds a rattle. Arranged around her are toys comprising another all-bisque doll seated on a nodding-head donkey,and a carved bone ball and cup game. Movement and Music. The doll looks to the left and leans forward,blinking her eyes,and lifting her little doll several times as though in play. She sits back,nodding back and forth in contemplation of what to play next,and then lifts her right hand to shake the rattle. Her right foot kicks up and down in delight. Music plays.Leopold Lambert,Paris,circa 1895,with original bisque head marked "S.H. 1039". The model was actually deposed by Lambert in 1894 as "mechanical bebe doll". A departure from his standard line of exquisitely costumed standing bebes with two or three simples motions,it was actually quite complicated. His aim was to show the child in a realistic play situation. In his patent application he provided an endearing description of his design process. "I placed a child on the floor and surrounded him with his toys. I took careful note of the movements made by the child and I have managed to imitate the entire range of these movements". In both his written description and in the accompanying illustration,Lambert referred to "him",yet every example every found of the model has portrayed a girl child at play. The present example has original rare red paper label "L.B. Brevet Paris",and paper tune label indicating the song Petit Paysanne.

Passed

Charming French Musical Automaton "Little Girl with Polichinelle" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #103

19" (48 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden platform is a bisque-head doll with very expressive character face,blue glass paperweight eyes,widely beaming smile with painted row of teeth,painted features,pierced ears,blonde mohair wig over cork pate,carton torso and legs,bisque forearms,wearing silk satin party dress with beaded edging,velvet bonnet,silk shoes. She is holding a toy Polichinelle in her hands,seemingly delighted that his head has fallen off his body!Movements and Music. Turning her head from side-to-side as though to draw attention to the amusing incident,she nods forward,looking at the capricious disaster,and then alternately lifting each arm to show the separate parts. There is one tune,according to the original paper label,named Le Bi du Bout du Bang,likely a pop tune of the time utilizing slang terms. Leopold Lambert,circa 1892,with very rare bisque character head marked "203" commissioned from Jumeau expressively for Lambert's automata. A companion head model with crying face was also made,and is more typically found with this automaton,suggesting the child was sad at the breaking of her doll. The present interpretation of a gleefully laughing child is a bit disquieting,although interesting and rare.

Passed

Rare and Exquisite French Musical Automaton "Lady at the Harp" by Vichy

Lot #102

32" (80 cm.) Posed upon a superb circular wooden platform with velvet-covered under-base and velvet carpet is an amber-complexioned adult woman. She balances on one foot,her other foot backward and posed on tip-toe,supported at her back by a classic pedestal column,and at her side by the exquisite floor-standing harp which she is about to play. The lady has a head of staff/composition with beautiful oil-painted features,enhanced by subtle blush. Her brown glass eyes have articulated eyelids,her mouth is closed with a hint of painted teeth on the slightly smiling expression. She has long flowing brunette human hair. She has carton torso with graceful lady shape that accentuates her slender and shapely paper-mache legs with leather cover having original finish and painted sandals. Her forearms are of paper-mache with gesso overlay and the articulated wrists are covered in leather to hide their internal joint mechanisms. The wooden arch-shaped diatonic harp,known as cythare,has polychrome,hand-painted scrollwork and a decorative figurehead of a god with horns at its front base. The lady is garbed in flowing silk chiffon with metallic gilt lace,allowing and enhancing her gliding movement. Movement and Music. Her elegant pose accentuates the graceful movements. The Harp Player gracefully turns her head from side-to-side,blinking her eyelids,and periodically gazing upward,then down,as both of her arms glide freely in a realistic plucking of the harp strings. Not only is there movement of her arms,but also independent movement of her articulated wrists. Her breastplate moves up and down as though she is breathing. Music plays throughout. Vichy/Triboulet,Paris,circa 1895-1905. The automata,deposed model,#486,appeared in the firm's catalog named "Merveilleuse jouant de la cythare". The catalog description,using such terms as timidite and troublee,indicated the highly emotional feelings she was meant to depict as she prepared to perform her solo. Overall,this model is emblematic of the period when Vichy's creations included more ambitious architectural touches that were "as one" with the theme. The extremely rare model shows a staggering amount of planning on every detail. A highlight of the Steinbaum Collection,acquired from the Merrick Collection. Dr. and Mrs. Byron Merrick of Berlin Heights,Ohio hosted the founding meeting of the Musical Box Society at their home in 1949 and this piece was demonstrated there at that event.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Elegant Lady at Her Piano" by Gustave Vichy

Lot #101

18" (46 cm.) A velvet-covered wooden stage presents a vignette of an elegant lady posed on a stool at her piano,ready for her performance. The lady has a bisque poupee head attributed to Gaultier,blue glass eyes,closed mouth,nicely painted features,pierced ears,blonde mohair flowing curls with black velvet hair ribbons,carton torso and legs,metal hands,and is exquisitely costumed in silk brocades and lace. The piano is of fine rosewood with ebonized finish borders and sides,bone and ebony spring-tension keys,and features shaped columns,ormolu three-arm candle holders and side handles,music sheet,and Sevres cobalt blue vase with silk flowers.Movement and Music. The lady pianist moves in a realistic manner,turning and nodding her head as if alternating between reading the sheet music and watching her hands on the keys. Her forearms move sideways across the keyboard,and,independently up and down as her hands approach the keys. A signature Vichy stop/start knob initiates both the action,and the spritely operatic music,emanating from a 52-note Swiss movement. The rear of the piano contains an access panel by which the mechanism may be viewed in action. Four tunes are played. Gustave Vichy,Paris,circa 1878,an early model from the illustrious firm,possibly created for,and exhibited at,the 1878 Universal Exhibition in Paris where Vichy exhibited his automata for the first time. This example includes the original paper tune label,two of the airs being a devotion to the composer Metra,conductor of the Folies Berg_re in Paris from 1872-1877.

Passed

French Scene Animee "An Evening's Music in the Drawing Room"

Lot #100

20" (51 cm.) Set within an oval gilded wood and gesso frame,behind a convex,oval glass window,is a die-cut dimensional scene of a loving family gathered around a spinet piano. The mother sits at the piano while the father,standing alongside,turns the sheet music and the nanny oversees a child who is playing with a drum while his Polichinelle toy lies nearby on the carpet. On the drawing room wall is mounted an ormolu-framed clock with dial plate of enameled porcelain with Roman numerals. Movements and Music. The lady pianist's hands glide individually over the keyboard as the gentleman's right arm waves in gesture to the nanny and child. All four figures nod their heads to the music,the nanny's left arm also waves,and both forearms of the small girl are beating their drum. The mechanism operates from a drawstring and push/pull lever at the side. The two-tune musical box operates independently from a drawstring. The wall clock is really a miniature pulley-wound pocket watch. A paper tune label on the side of the frame lists two tunes,Aurora Valse,and La Cachucha Danse Espagnole,along with instructions for use written in French. An identical animated scene in the Museum des Zeitmessung Beyer,Zurich bears the signature Berthoud,Paris on the timepiece,and le Grand Aine on the animation mechanism.

Passed

Vignette Automaton "The Organ Grinder's Dream" by Michel Bertrand

Lot #99

46" (117 cm.) h. x 35"w. x 21"d. An amusing vignette is arranged on a large wooden base with faux-cobblestone surface,depicting a weary and forlorn organ grinder sitting despondently on a park bench beneath a tall street light,his barrel organ next to him. Arranged on the park bench are the remains of his supper,French bread,can of fish,strawberry jam and a knife for cutting. His jacket dangles from the park bench. A bottle of wine is in his hand.Movements. The organ grinder turns his head and looks up at the lamp which is lighting. Periodically the Grinder lifts his bottle and sips wine. He struggles to keep his eyes open,but fails; his eyelids droop. His lower lip opens and closes as if he is mumbling. He slumps over,his head on his arm,his body sliding,and his right leg moving to regain his balance. As he sleeps,his coat "comes alive" and the arm of his coat begins to turn the barrel organ. Hearing the music,the organ grinder stirs. He looks up at the clock on the street lamp which dims as he does so. The night is over. In an animation finale,a mouse darts through the scene. A heavy-duty clockwork motor drives a total of 11 brass cams and the organ music is synchronized to play only when the organ-grinder falls asleep. The music is provided by a concealed tape deck with hidden speakers within the organ,and this plus the motor that turns the crank on the organ is powered by a 12-volt nickel-clad,rechargeable battery hidden within the barrel organ. There are 11 animations. Michel Bertrand,Switzerland,1985,"The Organ Grinder's Dream" was created on special commission from Jerry and Bunny Steinbaum. One of Bertrand's most complex and creative compositions,it was inspired by Vichy's "La Pochard",model 524bis,yet although developed with a more fanciful storyline.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Scene on a Paris Street" by Michel Bertrand

Lot #98

45" (114 cm.) h. overall x 29"w. x 21"d. 27" man. Arranged upon a finely-polished wooden cabinet is a faux-stone floor to simulate a Paris street,framed by a faux-brick and wooden stage-back that forms the wall of a classic Paris pissoir,and fronted by a curved tin front screen that is plastered with posters in the traditional style. Behind the screen is a composition head man with glass eyes,curly wig with articulated hat,gentleman's costume,posed purposefully for the scene.Movements and Music. While music plays,the man goes about his business,and then suddenly turns sideways to shock the proper passerby,while simultaneously his hat tips up as if in greeting. Several tunes play. Michel Bertrand,circa 1988,using original Phalibois cams,internal body mechanism,and wooden plaque d'animation.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "The Smoking Lunar Dandy" by Marcu

Lot #96

31" (79 cm.) Standing atop a red-velvet-covered base is a moon-faced dandy with over-sized head of plaster composition,blue glass eyes,and open mouth from which a cigarette holder dangles,and composition hands. An illusion of hair is created from metal and cloth crescent-shaped faux-flames,which are repeated on his shirt and slippers. He holds a monocle in his left hand and a walking stick with moon face hand grip in his right hand.Movements and Music. When cigarette is placed in the holder and lit,his flared-style hair arises,and his eyes and the head itself each move side-to-side. He nods his head,raises his eyebrows and blinks his right eyelid. His left arm lifts the monocle to his face,and his right arm twists the walking stick. At first the Lunar Dandy inhales and then exhales the smoke from his nose,but he inhales again and exhales out both his ears. There are 10 animations and one tune.Michel Marcu,France,1997. Named "Dandy Lunaire fumeur" by the talented artist. Although the whole moon and the crescent moon were a favorite theme of automata from the end of the previous century,Marcu claimed that his inspiration for this piece came directly from the writings of Jules Verne.

Passed

French Automaton "Drinking Boy with Cup and Bottle" by Roullet et Decamps

Lot #95

24" (61 cm.) Seated upon a maple-wood chair with tassel trim is a paper-mache boy with artfully crafted,cheerful yet insolent expression,rich dark brown complexion,brown glass eyes,articulated eye lids,wide beaming smile with hinged jaw,black wiry hair,paper-mache hands and lower legs with bare feet. He is wearing a red velvet jacket,green silk cut-off pants,and a plaid cap,and holds a pewter bottle in one hand and a cup in the other. The arrangement is presented upon a red velvet-lined base.Movement. He blinks his eyes and turns his head side-to-side,moves his lips as if amusingly offering himself a drink,and then he pours from the bottle into the cup,then raising the cup to his lip. He tips back his head and drains the cup. Unseen is the action of the drink as it enters his mouth; it runs through a series of tubes and returns to the bottle,such that the drinking episodes can continue unabated! Roullet et Decamps,circa 1890. A similar "smoking" model of a black-complexioned lad seated on a maple-wood chair was presented in their catalog,#365,named "Negre Fumeur". The rare model of the Drinking Boy is well-preserved and perfectly functioning.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Street Musician with Young Boy and Dog" by Phalibois

Lot #94

34" (86 cm.) h. x 23"w. x 16"d. Standing upon a wooden platform with architecturally-detailed base to simulate a cobbled street is an adult man with paper-mache head with oil-painted complexion and features,hinged jaw,very characterized expression,carton torso and legs,composition hands,and wearing shirt and patched trousers,long flannel coat with red lining,worn top hat and shoes,and holding a guitar. At the side is a wooden dog house containing a flannel-covered paper-mache dog. Seated on the roof of the dog house is a paper-mache boy with original street urchin costume,holding a bottle. Movements and Music. The street musician nods and turns his head,opening and closing his mouth as though singing along with his guitar music. His right hand strums the guitar and lifts higher on occasion,while his left hand holds the guitar,lifting and sliding along the length of the neck. And then,most surprisingly,a runny nose will appear and disappear. Meanwhile the boy's head lifts up to look at the musician as his shoulders shrug and his right arm raises up so he can take a swig from his soda bottle. The dog's head bobs up and down as if enjoying the music,too. There are 10 animations and 2 tunes. Driven by a large-sized Phalibois clockwork motor,the unit contains ten Phalibois carved wooden cams,accompanied by a 2-tune musical movement. Henry Phalibois,Paris,circa 1910. The unique and very rare automaton depicting a Paris street scene incorporates humor,childhood,music and street entertainment and dogs,all designed to attract the attention of passers-by. It was likely used as a window display,possibly in the window of a pharmacy judging from the musician's cold symptons. It is an excellent example of Henri Phalibois' later,more raffish-looking caricatures.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Pierrot Ecrivain" by Gustave Vichy

Lot #93

27" (69 cm.) Arranged upon a carpeted wooden platform is a wooden writing desk and elegant salon chair upon which is seated the popular culture figure of Pierrot,a quill pen in his hand,and an oil lamp,inkwell,and parchment letter on his tableside. Pierrot has a paper-mache head with classic whitened complexion,reddish hair,glass eyes,articulated kidskin eyelids,carton body,composition hands and is dressed in classic white silk Pierrot costume with conical hat and black pom-poms. Movements and Music. Pierrot's left forearm is poised near his head,as if he is reflecting upon the message. His right hand holds a quill pen,which he moves across the paper as if scribbling,first hurriedly,and then slowly as though contemplating his wording,then rapidly again. He pauses,and then gradually falls asleep,his eyelids closing as the lamplight dims down. After a pause,he wakes up and,seeing the lamp is no longer burning,stretches out his left hand as if turning up the wick. The light burns brightly once again. He turns his head,blinks and continues to write. Two tunes are played. Gustav Vichy,Paris,1890,the automaton appeared in the Vichy catalog as #518 entitled "Pierrot Ecrivain",with G.V. depose. The automaton was designed to be demonstrated in a darkened room with oil lamp lit,for best effect. The realism of the animation is created by a very complicated set of cams in the mechanism. The mechanism is concealed in the clown's torso,with linkages passing into the table and controlling the movement of the wick. Pierrot's classic costume,brass lamp and brass inkwell are appropriately replaced,and the automaton functions perfectly in a very realistic manner. Pierrot,a centuries old figure originating in Italian theatre,was revitalized in late 19th/early 20th century Paris,evolving from rogue status into an evocative,romantic figure of popular culture. Ex-collection of Samuel F. Pryor,the automaton was featured on the 1982 auction catalog cover of his collection,then acquired by Bunny and Jerry Steinbaum where it has remained until today.

Passed

French Automaton "The Smoking Jockey" by Roullet et Decamps

Lot #92

30" (76 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden base is a horse jockey,having a paper-mache head,glass eyes,articulated eye lids,hinged jaw,painted teeth,blonde mohair wig,carton torso and legs. He is wearing a silk jockey jacket and has kidskin pants fitted to the paper-mache torso and legs. His black paper-mache boots have shaped brown rims,and he has a molded jockey cap with painted stripes and little brim. He has a cigarette holder in one hand,and a horse crop in the other. Movement. As though contemplating a successful ride,the jockey stands,then turns his head and nods,while blinking his eyelids. He draws the cigarette to his mouth,which opens and closes in synchronic movement with the smoking process,and inhales. Turning his head again,he exhales. The smoke is actually driven through a bellows-activated rubber tubing hidden inside his torso and arm. Roullet & Decamps,circa 1890,the automaton appeared in the firm's early catalog as model #184. The "smoking" automaton figure was a popular theme in the Roullet & Decamps catalogs; the firm also offered Americain Fumeur,Negre Fumeur and Anglaise Fumeur.

Passed

Musical Automaton "Ernst,L'Artiste and the Monkey Portrait" by Bertrand,After Vichy

Lot #91

35" (90 cm.) A stylized figure of an artist in the Van Gogh manner is perched on the top rung of a ladder-back chair,holding a sketch pencil in his right hand and a clothbound sketchbook in his left hand. He has a composition head and hands,pale green paperweight eyes,wiry black hair,moustache and goatee,and articulated eyelids and lower lip. His rich costume confirms that he is no starving artist,featuring a patterned yellow cotton shirt with oversized purple silk necktie,black velvet silk-lined jacket with designs of a painter's palette on one lapel and a set of paint brushes on the other,trousers with a plaid multi-colored pattern,striped socks and brown leather shoes. Over his left shoulder is a low-slung,velvet-covered quiver decorated with playing cards and holding his paint brushes and pencils. Movements and Music. The Artist blinks his eyes alternately in humorous fashion,and he turns and nods to look down at his work while drawing his pencil to the sketchbook and moving his lower lip as if mumbling. All the while,his shoulders shrug,but alternately from each other,and he draws his right leg up as if to cross the other. After some sketching,his left arm swings out to present his finished work,a portrait of a gentleman monkey. But,suddenly,the page turns as though from a wind gust,to reveal the same monkey portrait with its jaw wagging and its hat dancing on its head. The highly animated scene is amplified by the Artist's brush quiver rising and falling each time he shrugs his shoulder. The highly complex mechanism consists of two sets of cams,five larger and three smaller,rotating at different speeds on separate shafts and causing the illusion of some eleven movements to take place. Steel linkages pass from the mechanism in the chair seat,up the back of the chair and into the Artist's body. A musical movement plays two tunes. There are 8 cams and 11 movements. Michel Bertrand,Switzerland,1982,after a Gustav Vichy piece with many original Vichy parts. The automaton was acquired from Bertrand by Bunny and Jerry Steinbaum in 1982 and has remained in their possession until this time. Another example is in the Guinness Collection at the Morris Museum,and it is believed that only a very few of this very appealing and complicated model were ever made.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Femme _ la Psyche" by Henry Phalibois

Lot #90

39" (100 cm.) An elegant woman of society is posed standing in front of a wood-framed cheval mirror,wearing an Edwardian style blouse and fitted long skirt. The woman has a paper-mache/gesso head,upswept blonde hair,and carton body with shapely female form. The arrangement is posed upon a wooden platform with tapestry carpet,the platform containing the elaborate mechanism. Movements and Music. She powders her nose with her right hand and raises her left hand to her hair,then turning to gaze toward on-lookers,her breast gently rises and falls as though breathing. Throughout,the mirror is also turning such as one might angle a cheval mirror back and forth,creating a myriad of different views of the woman and her actions. Two tunes are played. The mechanism is contained in the cast-iron framed wooden base and driven by a large clockwork spring motor with eight large wooden cams. Henry Phalibois,circa 1905,the model was known as Femme a la Psyche (Lady at her Mirror). Few examples of this spring driven model are known to exist. This example,which has always been driven by a spring motor,is an extremely rare early version of a similar electrified model which appeared after 1910; an example of that appears in the Musee de l'Automate in Souillac,France.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Whistling Schoolboy" by Henri Phalibois

Lot #89

33" (84 cm.) A tall and lean paper-mache boy with sans souci character expression is posed upon a velvet-covered cylinder-shaped wooden base,posed nonchalantly with arched back and outstretched hands with extended right index finger. His head is modeled with puckered cheeks and an open mouth shaped as though whistling. He has blue paperweight eyes and articulated eyelids,and is wearing original midnight blue velvet jacket,breeches and beret,leather shoes,and stockings. A leather schoolbook satchel is slung around his neck. Movements and Music. The schoolboy tilts his head from side-to-side and blinks his eyelids alternately in mock ridicule of his surroundings,while lifting and lowering his right forearms at rhythmic internals. He alternately "whistles" two casual tunes including "Daisy Bell",1892,(more often known by its line "A Bicycle Built for Two"). The other tune is one in which the boy hits some flat notes,designed to accentuate his demeanor. Like his father Jean before him,Henry Phalibois appropriated the birdsong mechanisms of Bontems to his own designs. There are three well-functioning animations and two tunes.Henry Phalibois,Paris,circa 1900,the automaton was marketed as "Le Potache",and so favored by Phalibois that it became the symbol of his firm,adorning his ads and letterhead from 1900 onward. Over time,Phalibois created variations on this model that were large or small,that whistled different tunes,and which were home models like this one,or coin-operated versions for public amusement like one in the Murtogh D. Guinness Collection at the Morris Museum.

Passed

French Mechanical "Puss in Boots" Attributed to Roullet et Decamps

Lot #88

26" (66 cm.) A lavishly-covered white fur over paper-mache cat is posed in human-like stance,with loosely hinged neck,green glass eyes,hinged jaw,painted teeth,upright ears,long paws,the legs enclosed in black paper-mache boots,wearing red-lined blue cape and carrying wooden sword.Movements: the head nods to and fro,and the mouth opens and closes.Attributed to Roullet & Decamps,circa 1900. Several other models in this larger size were offered by the firm from their menagerie collection; in addition to this Puss in Boots model,several standing people monkeys with drums were created,and in each instance,the animal's standing pose was supported by his very long wire-armature tail. The animals were advertised with or without music.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Girl Dancing on Tightrope" Attributed to Roullet & Decamps

Lot #87

18" (46 cm.) Arranged upon a velvet-covered wooden platform is an acrobatic balancing bar with fringed velvet trim,and posed on one toe on the bar is a bisque-head girl with glass eyes,closed mouth,mohair wig,and wearing silk acrobatic costume. She holds a garland of flowers in her hands.Movement and Music. Combining the skills of ballet dancing and tightrope walking,the doll moves back and forth across the bar,on tiptoe,twirling,and moving arms and garland up and down. Attributed to Roullet et Decamps,circa 1910.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Pup in Top Hat" Attributed to Roullet et Decamps

Lot #86

7" (18 cm.) A gentleman's pressed felt flannel top hat,left resting open-ended upon a table-top,evidently became the hiding place for a paper-mache black fleecy-covered pup with glass eyes,shaped nose,and long floppy ears. Although it appears that the entire pup is hiding inside the hat,it is actually only a pup's head,and the automaton mechanism is visible by peering inside the hat. Movements and Music. The pup peeks his head out of his hiding place,and twirls about,as though looking to see if anyone is watching. He repeats the motion for some time and then,evidently spying someone coming,he quickly drops down into the hat,hiding. Music plays throughout. Attributed to Roullet et Decamps,circa 1910,from their extensive line of whimsical mechanical animal pieces.

Passed

Rare French Musical Automaton "Loie Fuller on Crescent Moon" by Roullet et Decamps

Lot #84

24" (61 cm.) h. x 18"l. An imaginative vignette features a paper-mache crescent moon slice rising from a bank of puffy clouds,the moon having classic moon-face with painted complexion and features,blue glass eyes,and open mouth with movable tongue and painted teeth. Poised on one tip-toe on a point of the moon is a bisque-head ballerina,having brown glass eyes,closed mouth,nicely painted features,blonde mohair wig,and wearing fine lace-over-silk pale rose costume,and having painted ballerina slippers. Movements and Music. The ballerina pirouettes en point on her right leg,occasionally performing en avant with her left leg. Bending side-to-side at the waist,she gracefully holds the corners of her gown to lend a fluid and graceful action. Meanwhile,perhaps in gratitude for her lovely performance,the moon blinks its eyes and saucily sticks out its tongue. Two merry tunes play. Roullet et Decamps,Paris,circa 1890,the automaton appeared in the firm's early catalog as #321 described as "Loie Fuller". American-born Louise Marie Fuller was a theatrical celebrity in America,considered a pioneer of modern dance,but not until she had reached Paris did Fuller she feel she was taken seriously. Remaining in Paris,she became a star of Folies Berg_re,her work considered an embodiment of the Art Nouveau movement,and her Serpentine Dance,the subject of an early 1896 film by the Lumiere Brothers. Her dance performances received special notice at the 1900 Universal Exhibition in Paris,and,had licensing been prevalent at the time,she would have been wealthy merely from the many ways her name was used on products to lure her adoring public. Roullet et Decamps' "Loie Fuller",one of very few automata in which the figure was an actual person,is a very rare and fine example of this adoration.

Passed

French Musical Automata on "Little Tich" by Roullet et Decamps

Lot #83

30" (76 cm.) Standing upon a wooden platform with velvet-covered sides and slatted-wooden floor to simulate a stage floor,is a highly characterized man with gentle smile,oil-painted complexion with rosy make-up on nose,cheeks,ears and chin,brown glass eyes,articulated eyelids,closed mouth,sculpted details of forehead wrinkles,and brown human hair. He has carton torso and hands posed to be able to hold his hat,over-sized feet with painted black shoes,and is wearing a green woolen suit with purple lapels and red buttons,silk vest with double row of brass buttons,white shirt,and silk tie.Movement and Music. He stands as though on-stage,pausing before beginning his performance. Then he alternately taps his amusing over-sized feet,first one,then the other. He blinks his eyelids,bends amazingly far forward while simultaneously lifting his right arm,thus extending his hat to the audience. He,then,slowly raises himself while drawing his hat back to his body and finally stands,open-hatted,satisfied with his performance. Music plays throughout. Roullet & Decamps,Paris,circa 1910. The English stage performer,Henry Relph,billed as "Little Tich" was the realistic inspiration for this amusing automaton. The highly characterized face,unique to this model,aptly resembles photographs of Relph,as does his performance. Relph was a small man and his unique performance was based upon wearing shoes that were "half as long as he was tall". A popular performer in Paris as well as London,he became clubby with Montmartre society from which the inspiration for many automaton designs was drawn. The "Little Tich" automaton was apparently exhibited at the 1908 International Exposition of which one juror,Serre Telmon,wrote that "its elegance is equaled by its ingenuity...Little Tich accompanies his dancing,his gesture and his legendary poses with blinking of the eyes." Few examples are known to exist of this rare piece.

Passed

French Automaton "Buffalo Bill Smoker" by Gustave Vichy

Lot #82

28" (71 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden platform is a tall and slender gentleman,posed pretentiously,one leg angled to the side. He has a paper-mache head with elongated slender shape,aquiline nose,brown glass eyes,articulated eyelids,hinged jaw,double row of painted teeth,brunette human hair in flowing style,long curled moustache and goatee,elongated carton torso,slender legs,paper-mache hands sculpted as wearing gloves. He is wearing his original kidskin costume with theatrical-like beaded trim,fleecy collar,wide belt over velvet sash,paper-mache knee-high boots with straps,and signature horseshoe fob. He holds a cigarette holder in his right hand,and a rifle in his left hand.Movements. He opens and closes his eyelids as though anticipating the pleasure of smoking,turns his head side-to-side,leans his head down,lifts the cigarette holder to his mouth and inhales. He then lowers the cigarette,tilts his head back in satisfaction and exhales. Although it appears that he actually inhales and exhales,actually the smoke moves through a series of hidden internal rubber tubes. Gustave Vichy,circa 1890,the model was deposed by Vichy as "Buffalo Bill" and appears in a classic costume worn by the celebrity for his Wild West Show that toured Europe at this time to grand success. It is the only model on which Vichy actually bestowed the celebrity's name in his catalog description. An original brass Vichy plaque appears on the velvet base. Ex-collection Samuel F. Pryor,Jr. from which it was acquired by Jerry Steinbaum.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Organ Grinder with Dancing Doll Performers" by Gustave Vichy

Lot #81

23" (58 cm.) Standing upon a flat velvet-covered wooden platform is a bisque-headed man posed as an organ-grinder. The man has a uniquely-sculpted bisque head with incised wrinkles,sculpted moustache,brown glass eyes,closed mouth with painted double row of teeth,and brunette human hair wig. His carton torso and legs,and metal hands are costumed in rich silk theatrical costume with striped silk bow tie and tall feathered hat. He stands behind a beautifully-crafted wooden street organ with silk curtains upon which is posed a pair of bisque miniature dancing dolls. Movements and Music. Standing still,as if waiting for a crowd to hush,the organ grinder looks from side-to-side,and then,satisfied,he nods and his right arm begins to wind the organ,causing the little dolls to perform their dance. The arm movement is realistic with the appearance of flexing arm muscles. Two tunes play during the performance.Gustave Vichy,Paris,circa 1880. The bisque head appears to be a unique portrait model commissioned expressively for this automaton. Few examples are known to exist. A similar model,with paper-mache clown as organ grinder and monkey as performer was also made by Vichy,and later,during the Vichy/Triboulet era,a grand-sized version of the automaton organ grinder was made by the firm with clown organ grinder and three monkeys.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Polichinelle with Violin" by Jean Roullet

Lot #80

30" (76 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden base is a paper-mache headed character depicting the legendary Polichinelle. He has highly stylized facial sculpting with angular cheek bones,pointy chin,elongated nose,brown glass eyes with articulated leather eyelids,mohair lashes,open mouth with double row of teeth,white mohair fleecy wig,carton torso with characteristic Polichinelle humps at front and back torsos,metal hands,carton legs with attached shoes having upturned toes. He is wearing a luxurious blue and red silk jester costume with metallic soutache and fringe,lace edging,and having matching bi-corn hat and silk pom-poms. He holds a wooden violin. Movement and Music. Turning his head in a circular and nodding fashion,he blinks his eyelids,and "bows" the violin by intricate movement of his entire arm in a very realistic manner. Music plays. Jean Roullet,circa 1870,with original Theroude mechanisms,a rare early automata. The model was made in two versions,with base or without base on weighted feet,and it appeared in an early Roullet catalog named Polichinelle No. 8 at the luxury price of 85 francs. Ex-collection Christian Bailly.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Pierrot Serenading the Crescent Moon" by Lambert

Lot #79

22" (56 cm.) A slender-bodied paper-mache Pierrot with painted white complexion,brown glass eyes,open mouth,brunette wig,bisque hands,is holding a lute and wearing original costume comprising silk jacket,black shirt,fitted knit leggings and pointed brown slippers,is seated on the tip of an artfully curved crescent moon. The moon has a sculpted moon face in profile,with glass eyes and an open mouth with hinged jaw,and the entire arrangement is set upon a supportive foundation of paper-mache clouds.Movements and Music. Pierrot nods and turns his head while strumming the lute,then sassily sticks out his tongue at the moon; the moon,meanwhile,winks his eye and open and closes his mouth as if responding in appreciation. There are six animations and two tunes. Leopold Lambert,Paris,circa 1890. The piece combines two of the most popular and evocative symbols of popular culture,Pierrot and the moon,into a single scene where they appear to be communicating. The automaton maker,Vichy,had first created Aubade a la Lune (Ballad to the Moon) about 1885 when his workshop was under the direction of then-foreman,Leopold Lambert. Lambert later left Vichy,and created his own automaton studio,creating among other pieces,a nearly identical version of Aubade a la Lune. Vichy sued for counterfeiting,but the Tribunal held he had not filed his design in a timely manner,and Lambert won the case. The story of the lawsuit is hold in The Encyclopedia of French Dolls by Theimer,pp 334-338. This example bears the Lambert signature winding key. It is overall in excellent,all-original condition,has never been opened and operates very nicely. Ex-collection Jerry and Sylvia Cohen,ex-collection Jerry and Bunny Steinbaum.

Passed

Musical Automaton "Le Buffet Magique" by Michel Bertrand,in the Vichy Lineage

Lot #78

33" (84 cm.) A tableau arrangement presents a mischievous young man who has perched himself on the counter of his grandmother's kitchen cupboard. The cupboard is artfully crafted of lightly finished mahogany with bun feet,brass fittings and stained glass cupboard doors. The boy has a painted composition head with glass eyes,brown mohair wig,composition hands and carton body. He is dressed in a silk shirt and rich maroon velvet jacket and breeches,with brown socks and nicely cobbled leather shoes. He holds a biscuit in his hand.Movements and Music. The little boy is set upon finding jam for his biscuit. He reaches for the cupboard door which magically springs open. A fly appears and "flies" up the edge of the left-hand door,out of the boy's reach. It is then that he catches sight of the jar of gooseberry jam on the second shelf. But before he can reach it,the jam jar suddenly spins around,transforming itself into the white-haired,wrinkled facial image of his stern grandmother,her wire-rimmed glasses moving up and down on her nose and her jaw dropping in alarm as she begins to scold him for his act. In response,the boy gestures with his hands,nods and sticks out his tongue. The cupboard door magically closes shut,and a startled mouse appears scuttled from his hiding place behind an apple on the counter. There is an ingenious clockwork mechanism with seven cams that direct a seemingly greater number of movements. Two tunes play throughout.Michel Bertrand,Switzerland,1983. The automaton,commissioned from the artist by Jerry and Bunny Steinbaum,was modeled after the original Vichy automaton of 1910,and perfectly captures its flavor. Few examples are known to exist.

Passed

Musical Automaton "The Clown Conjuror with Six Secrets" in the Vichy Lineage by Michel Bertrand

Lot #77

38" (97 cm.) Arranged upon a burgundy velvet-draped rectangular wooden base is a Conjuring Clown,standing behind a pedestal table upon which he is about to perform sleight-of-hand. The Conjuring Clown has painted composition head and hands,eyes,large painted eyebrows in the shape of an inverted "v",pinkish nose and smiling red lips revealing a row of teeth. He is dressed in a multi-colored outfit comprising a white shirt,gold satin waistcoat,gold and red clown's neckerchief and cuffs,deep maroon velvet jacket,red pants and black shoes. The table before him has a gold-colored pedestal and is draped in green velvet with gold fringe. In his right hand,he holds the top of a large,red conjuring cup and in his left hand is a white magic wand. Movements and Music. While music plays,the Clown nods and looks around him. He blinks and moves his mouth as if talking to an assembled crowd of on-lookers,and waves his magic wand. As he raises and lowers the upturned red cup,objects appear and disappear in six successions: mouse,jewelry,flowers,goldfish,dice and bird in a cage. The movements are executed with grace and dexterity,directed by a large clockwork mechanism with eight cams hidden within the base. The six-tune musical movement is an antique one of good quality. Michel Bertrand,Switzerland,1993,under commission by Jerry and Bunny Steinbaum,inspired by the earlier automaton "Clown aux boules mysterieuses",as shown in the original Vichy/Triboulet early 20th century catalog. Bertrand was the successor to the Vichy/Triboulet/JAF firm and incorporated many of the original period Vichy parts in his creations which were often,as this one,interpretations of the earlier pieces.

Passed

Musical Automaton "The Clown Illusionist" by Michel Bertrand

Lot #76

7" (94 cm.) Standing upon a handsomely carved and finished wooden base with velvet floor cover,the front panel of which is centered by a marquetry diamond depicting a song sheet and juniper leaves,is a festively dressed Clown. The Clown has a highly characterized composition head with painted white complexion and clown decorations,glass eyes,fleecy reddish brown hair,and is dressed in a red cotton shirt decorated with black stars,striped bow tie,silk slippers and black socks,and suspender-held satin yellow pants bearing a black criss-cross pattern and a painted green frog that is seemingly climbing up his pants. Next to the clown are arranged two over-sized dice,and the floor is decorated with a magician's top hat,his white gloves,and scattered playing cards. Movements and Music. Standing with pink handkerchief in right hand and a black fan with painted floral spray in his left left,he gently brings the fan up in front of his face,and when it is lowered,his head has suddenly disappeared into thin air! He waves the handkerchief,and then the lid of the upper dice opens and up pops his smiling head! The lid closes,he raises his fan once again,and,with a flourish,he lowers the fan to reveal his head once more in its rightful position. Two tunes play throughout. Michel Bertrand,Switzerland,1988,commissioned by Jerry and Bunny Steinbaum who have been the sole owners of the piece until this time. The piece was inspired by a model by Henry Phalibois,circa 1900. This Bertrand example was under construction for the Steinbaums when the author Daniel Troquet came to interview Bertrand for his book,The Wonderland of Music Boxes and Automata (Les Editions du Cochet,1989),and the book features several full page photographs of the piece in different state of being built,along with commentary by Bertrand of how he came up with his concept,sculpted the molds,patterned the cams,designed a mechanism and such. A copy of the book is included with the automata.

Passed

German Musical Automaton "The Clown Magician"

Lot #75

32" (81 cm.) Standing upon a large velvet-covered wooden platform stage is a composition-head clown with oil-painted clown features and whitened complexion,glass eyes,hinged jaw,open mouth with painted teeth,and carrot red hair. He is smarly re-costumed in turquoise brocade clown suit with black felt flannel top hat and "jeweled" silk shoes. He is standing aside a pedestal table with fringed black velvet cover and having hidden "magician's" cubby hole under the matching black velvet cone.Movement and Music. The Magician faces forward,beckoning,his lower jaw opening and closing as if he is talking. Gesturing,he raises his right arm slightly and turns his head while raising the cone with his left hand. Each time he raises the cone,a new "surprise" appears on the table; there are four such surprises comprising egg,baby chick,glass clear marble,and die. The concealed mechanism is driven by a large-sized clockwork motor driven by three cams. There is an early snuff-box-style musical movement with drawstring and separate stop/start controls. Maker unknown,Germany,circa 1900.

Passed

Rare French Coin-Operated "Clown Illusionist" Musical Automaton Attributed To Phalibois

Lot #74

6' 7" height. A handsome,floor-standing,oak-veneered cabinet,with gallery and finials,frames a theatrical staging that is fronted by a glass-paneled door. Posed in the theatre is the star performer,a clown,with painted paper-mache head and hands,smartly redressed in black jacket,lustrous white shirt and waistcoat,turquoise blue breeches and pale yellow stockings with black shoes. He holds a black fan in his right hand and a gigantic black die in his left hand which rests upon a metallic gold table decorated with a musical lyre. The lower half of the professionally-refinished cabinet contains a separately-wound and independently operated Regina disc-musical box,along with storage drawer for paper materials. Movements and Music. The mechanism contains a set of six,carved wooden cams in the signature Phalibois style. At the drop of an old English penny,the clockwork motor is released,and the clown comes "alive". The Clown first nods his head in salutation to his audience,than raises the open fan in his right hand to hide his face. Next,he lowers the fan,revealing that his head has disappeared! Then the die cube lifts open to reveal that his head has re-appeared on the table,under the die. The action repeats,his head is again mysteriously placed upon his head,and finally,the die cube is again lifted to reveal that the tabletop is empty. Accompanying the movement is a rich,great-sounding Regina Music Box of the same era,which has replaced the original Kalliope box. The Regina Music Box is of the desirable,short-bedplate,double-comb style with the original zither attachment and slow/fast control; its manual play/stop control is reached from inside the cabinet. There is a stock of Regina and Polyphon discs in fair/good condition included. Circa 1900. Built as an entertainment piece for amusement in a public place such as hotel lobby or arcade,the automat,or coin-operated amusement pieces,appeared in turn of the century German catalogs such as that of Kallioipe Musikwerke of Leipzig (see illustrations,as shown in Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments by David Bowers,p. 111),Ernst Holzweissig or Reiner,Pelzer & Co. Some of these coin-operated amusements included French automata. It is certain that Phalibois was among those who supplied the automata,further substantiated by his signature wooden cams that appear on this example. The expensive luxury nature of the pieces,as well as their low survival rate owning to the constant use that they received in public places,makes any example today extremely rare.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Fruit-Seller with Surprises" by Gustave Vichy

Lot #73

25" (64 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden platform,slightly leaning forward as though displaying her basket of wares,is a paper-mache lady with rich dark brown oil-painted complexion,brown glass eyes,articulated eyelids,open mouth with double row of teeth,brunette mohair wig,carton torso and legs,paper-mache hands. She is wearing a rich costume of silk and silver with gilded ornaments,and appears to be carrying a rectangular peddlar's basket with interwoven ribbons. Inside the the basket are three silk-petaled flowers with hinged lid arrangement. Movement and Music. The woman turns her head from side-to-side,while her eyelids blink,lending an animated impression. The basket,which is actually connected to the woman by a metal bar at her torso which controls the mechanical wires,begins to "come alive" as though the flowers were abloom,and alternately,the flowers open up to reveal their activity: a little mouse circles around and around chasing his tail,a tiny bisque doll with antique costume circles as though dancing,and a paper-mache monkey turns side-to-side,blinks his eyelids,and his mouth opens and closes as though chattering "Choose me,choose me". There are 11 animations and two musical tunes. The controls are a signature style Vichy winding key and single-ridged acorn-shaped pull lever. Gustave Vichy,Paris,circa 1885,a similar model was shown in the London 1884 catalog of Silber and Fleming. The theme was popular with Vichy who created several variations of the peddler theme with "magical surprise". Not only was the animation of the flowers a surprise,but when the tiny hidden figures began their performance,it added to the delight.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Flower Seller with Surprise"

Lot #72.1

23" (58 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden base is a bisque-head doll with blue glass eyes,mohair lashes,open mouth,row of teeth,brunette human hair,carton torso with adult female shape,elongated slender arms and legs. She is wearing a silk and velvet folklore style costume and carries a silk covered flower box decorated with a flower-covered cone. The box is actually supported by metal rod from torso,although it appears as though she is carrying it. Movements and Music. Standing,as though offering flowers,she nods to her right hand and lifts her hand to show a small posy of silk flowers,then turns her head side-to-side,and nodding to her left hand,she lifts the lid - surprise! - on what appeared to be a bouquet of flowers but is actually hiding a little dancing doll. Two tunes play,as indicated by the original paper label,"For Me and My Gal" and "Valsez Jolies Gosses". The winding key has L.B. initials. Notes. French,circa 1915,a later model by Leopold Lambert.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "The Monkey Conjuror" by Phalibois

Lot #72

28" (71 cm.) Arranged upon an oval-shaped ebony wooden platform is a paper-mache monkey-person standing behind a conjuror's table with fringed silk cover and lithographed paper surface,under an over-reaching arbor of silk leaves and flowers. The monkey has brown glass blinking eyes,open mouth with double row of teeth,hinged jaw,mohair wig,beard and moustache,and is wearing elaborate silk and velvet Magician costume. Movements and Music. When the music begins,the Conjuror turns his head from side-to-side,nods as though to direct that the action will begin,and then,in synchronic movements with the nods,lifts the cups on the table to reveal various "magic" surprises": dice,orange ball,buttons,and such. Throughout he blinks his eyes,and open and closes his mouth as though calling out. Two musical tunes occur from a separate pull-string and lever. There are seven wooden cams directing the actions. Phalibois,Paris,circa 1885. An original pencil script marking "Escomoteur No.2" inside the base indicates Phalibois' original name for the automaton. A nearly identical piece appeared in Silber and Fleming of London trade catalog of the era. In some instances,despite its production as a show of magic,the automaton was actually used for gambling purposes (notwithstanding that the numbers on the dice were always the same!).

Passed

French Musical Automaton " Magician with Two Musician" Attributed to Phalibois

Lot #71

21" (53 cm.) h. x 24"w. x 11"d. Standing upon an oval ebony wooden base in an elaborate arrangement are three bisque-head figures,each with fine portrait-like face,blue glass eyes,painted features,closed mouth,mohair wig,carton torso,paper-mache hands,and painted wooden shoes. Standing center is the Magician,posed behind a magician's table on which are resting two cones,and at each side,seated,are accompanying musicians,one with violin and one with cello. Each figure is richly costumed in lavish silks and velvets,and the table and floor are finely finished. Movements and Music. The Magician sweeps her hand as though to call attention to the performance,then nodding her head and alternately turning side-to-side in accompaniment to the perfectly synchronized act,she lifts the cones,sometimes singly,sometimes in unison,to reveal the secret hidden beneath that has magically changed each time. Throughout,the musicians play instruments,and nod and turn their heads. The movements are activated by an all-original clockwork motor driving 3 wooden cams clusters having a total of 11 cams,controlling 10 figure animations as well as the table magic trick which has 5 complete changes of both objects. An independent pull-string-wound musical unit plays 2 different melodies,changeable and operable at will.Attributed to Phalibois,Paris,circa 1880. The luxury quality of movements and music,is complemented by the exquisite bisque heads,fine quality of costuming and accessories including the original matching table and floor coverings. A nearly identical example appears in the Murtogh Guinness Collection at the Morris Museum. Ex-collection Carole Jean Zvonar.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Black Fruit Vendor with Surprises" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #70

26" (66 cm.) An ebony-black paper-mache man with richly-painted complexion,glass eyes,paper-mache hands,torso and lower legs,is standing upon a velvet-covered wooden platform,appearing to be holding a velvet-covered tray containing a paper-mache pear and peach.. He in dressed is rich silks and velvets.Movements and Music. Appearing to be standing before a prospective customer,the seller nods his head as though bowing,nonchalantly turns his head side-to-side,and blinks his eyes. His peddler tray,attached to his torso by metal rods,leads to the hidden mechanism. The pear and peach have hidden hinges at the back,and they alternately open to reveal two quite different "surprises": the serenity of a twirling doll,versus the menacing expression of the monkey which turns its head,blinks its eyelids and moves its lips. There are nine movements and two musical tunes. Leopold Lambert,circa 1885. The automata was an international favorite,offered in the 1888 London catalog of Silber and Fleming,and creating the question of when,actually,do the "surprise" doll and monkey begin their performances? Is it when the fruit lid opens? Or have they been secretly "dancing in the dark". A.J.L. Wright,writing in the Journal of the Musical Box Society of Great Britain in 1966,gives the answer: "rather as one assumes that the light in a refrigerator only comes on when the door is opened,so one tends to think that the small automata each start up in turn as the top of the fruit lifts,but in fact...they never stop". This example is in beautifully preserved condition,ex-1984 collection auction in Monte-Carlo,Monaco to the Steinbaums.

Passed

Musical Automaton "The Gymnast with Two Chairs",in the Vichy Lineage,by Michel Bertrand

Lot #69

33" (84 cm.) Standing upon a handsomely-finished walnut base with red velvet cover that serves as his stage is a Gymnast,posed between two white wooden chairs. The Gymnast has a sienna-tinted composition head with clown markings,inverted v-shaped eyebrows,black mohair wig,glass eyes,and open mouth with cherry red lips that expose a row of teeth,carton torso and legs,composition hands. He is dressed theatrically in billowing silk trousers and sleeves,velvet embroidered vest,turban,wide cummerbund,and pointed gold slippers with faux-emerald settings. Movements and Music. He stands proudly as though waiting for the music to signal his performance. The music begins and he slowly raises his right hand,nods to the audience. He then takes hold of the chair in his right hand and lifts it off the ground. He then replaces the chair on the floor and performs a handstand,balancing on two chairs. He repeats the handstand,but this second time,he also raises the chair while still in the handstand position. The overall performance,having ten animations,is graceful and smooth.Michel Bertrand,Switzerland,1984,patterned after Vichy's deposed model 517,"Gymnast",yet having Bertrand's signature twists of design including both chairs facing forward,instead of one to the side,a slightly different sequence of animations,and a different performer model,this with facial model sculpted by Bertrand uniquely for this automaton. "The Gymnast with Two Chairs" was commissioned from Bertrand by Jerry and Bunny Steinbaum in 1984,a quarter century ago,and has been in their possession since that date.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Acrobat Clown on Ladder"

Lot #68

24" (61 cm.) Upon a velvet-covered wooden platform is a seven-step ladder on which is posed a white-faced paper-mache clown balanced upon his hands. The clown has brown glass eyes,open mouth,painted clown decorations,and red auburn hair,and is wearing a bead-trimmed silk clown costume. Movements and Music. The clown raises himself to nearly a horizontal position above the ladder,and then lowers himself so he appears to be standing on the 4th rung. He repeats the action,but,this time,when he is upraised,he lifts his left hand,and balances himself on his right hand only. He repeats the actions,over and over again. One tune is heard,"La Derniere Gavotte",according to original tune label. Circa 1900,having charming movements and music.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Clown Acrobat Performing Hand-Stand" by Marcu

Lot #67

26" (66 cm.) A bisque-head white-complexioned clown with blue glass eyes and patterned clown costume is posed atop a tall ladder mounted on a red velvet-covered base with decorative figurehead of a jester at the front. Movements and Music. The acrobat starts by supporting himself on his hands in an upright position,then raising himself,bending his legs during the process. He caps the performance by raising himself on just one hand and then returns to the vertical position again. One tune is played.Michel Marcu,France,circa 1975,with Reuge musical movement. The amusing acrobat is well-preserved and functioning well.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Harlequin Pirouetting on Troubadour's Nose" by Roullet et Decamps

Lot #66

39" (99 cm.) A troubadour with painted gesso-covered paper-mache head,glass eyes,articulated eyelids,carton torso,paper-mache legs,painted metal hands,is standing upon a flat velvet-covered platform. He wears an elaborate silk and velvet costume with cape,and red leather boots and holds a guitar in his hands. Balanced tip-toe on his nose is a miniature paper-mache headed figure,costumed as a masked harlequin.Movements and Music. His right hand strumming the guitar,the troubadour gazes upward,cautiously turning and nodding his head so as not to unbalance the harlequin. The troubadour's eyelids flutter. Meanwhile the harlequin pirouettes about. Music plays. Roullet et Decamps,circa 1885. A larger variation of the automaton appeared in the original catalog of that firm,model 157,depicting a peacock feather twirling on the nose of a clown. Provenance: ex-Cohen collection before its acquisition by Jerry and Bunny Steinbaum.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Clown Balancing on Two Chairs" by Renou

Lot #65

18" (46 cm.) Arranged upon a wooden stage platform,designed to appear as though it is merely a floor board held up by two saw-horses,are two wooden chairs centered by a paper-mache-headed clown with highly characterized face,glass eyes,painted clown decorations on white complexion,two-toned mohair wig flailing wildly in three directions,paper-mache torso and legs,bisque hands and wearing his original silk acrobat/clown costume. The clown is leaning on the backs of two chairs. Movements and Music. Balancing with his hands on the chair backs,he raises himself vertically above the stage. Then while the chairs slowly tilt outward,he continues to lift himself,persisting until he is at a nearly upright hand-stand,his legs forking back and forth while he ascends. Pausing,as though for applause,he then slowly begins his descent,until returning to the original position. Music plays throughout. Louis Renou,circa 1900. In 1886 Louis Renou took over the firm Dehais & LaForest. The firm specialized in games,toys and novelty items,and Renou carved a niche for himself by designing and building smaller-sized automata with simple mechanisms and,often,humorous effect. In this way,he was able,in theory,to sell the pieces at a lower price point and,hence,to a wider audience than were buying the luxury automata from Vichy or Roullet & Decamps. Notwithstanding,his marketing efforts fell short,and today his charming automata are rare and hard-to-find.

Passed

Superb French Musical Scene Animee

Lot #64

27" (69 cm.) Arranged upon an ebony wooden oval base with glass dome is a garden-like setting with an over-reaching tree with silk leaves and flowers,on cartonnage ground with decorated architectural details. A tightrope is arranged in center front of the scene and posed upon it is a male tightrope dancer,who is accompanied by lady and gentleman musicians who stand below. The performers have bisque heads with sculpted hair and painted facial features,painted wooden hands and legs and original rich silk theatrical costumes. Movement and Music. The tightrope dancer balances tentatively on the rope as his legs move randomly up and down. He nods his head up and down. The male violinist "bows" with his right arm while turning his head side-to-side,and the female harpist moves both forearms as if to strum while also turning head head side-to-side. A musical movement,concealed in the base,provides sound accompaniment. Phalibois,circa 1875,the early model employs the finest automaton of performers costumed felicitously,and performing in a realistic and awe-inspiring manner. An indication of the luxury nature of this particular automata is the London store label on the underside,for "Peters & Son,The Strand,London,W.C." The theme of tightrope dancer was popular throughout European and British society in the 19th century,both in actual human performance and in miniaturized representations _ scenes animees _ to be presented in the salon. Silber and Fleming,the London retailer,presented several variations of Phalibois' "Mechanical Rope Dancer" in their catalog.

Sold

Sold: $15,000

French Musical Scene Animee

Lot #63

29" (74 cm.) Arranged upon a ground-covered wooden ebony base is a park-like grande setting with over-reaching flowered arbor and waterfall. Posed under the arbor is a paper-mache monkey with oil-painted features,brown fur hair,glass eyes,hinged jaw and original silk dancer's costume. He is posed on one toe in classic ballet position upon a red mercury glass ball,holding flags in each outstretched hand.Movements and Music. The ball revolves while the monkey performs jetes and gaily waves the flags in each hand. He nods his head,turns side-to-side,lower lip moves open and closed as though he is singing along with his dance performance. A twisted glass waterfall plays at his side. The mirrored base creates an illusion of even more than the six delightful animations that do occur. Lovely quality of music. Phalibois,circa 1890. The theme of monkey posed as human,often either as aristocracy or theatrical,was a constant in mid-19th century French popular culture. Many observers believe the symbol to have been political commentary on particular events now forgotten,while others see it simply as wry social observation on human behavior,inspired by the then-current topic of Darwinism.

Sold

Sold: $5,000

French Automaton "L'Homme Serpent" by Michel Bertrand with Vichy Lineage

Lot #62

34" (86 cm.) length of base. 24" acrobat. 39" overall. Set atop a stepped stage platform with velvet-covered round wooden pedestal table is an crobatic contortionist,having painted staff/composition head,blue glass paperweight eyes,flocked brown hair,and open mouth exposing his teeth. He is dressed in a satin clown costume with black stockings and satin shoes. The table is rested upon a large platform with five steps on either side. Movements and Music. He lies on his stomach upon the table which swivels as he makes a scissor movement with his legs while nodding his head. He then raises his legs. The table swivels again. He raises his head,lifts his stomach off the table and arches his back in an amazing contortionist manner,with his legs raised high. He repeats the scissor movement before lowering himself back onto the table and scissoring his legs once more in the horizontal position. The mechanism is quite ingenious; the man's uniquely partitioned body consists of sections,each occupied by a wood block,and the blocks are interconnected by multiple hinges,thence by strung linkages that pass through his left shoulder/arm/hand and down the table into the base where the cams actuate the movements. The performance is deft,smooth,subtle,and lasting for quite a long cycle. Accordingly,there are six musical tunes. Inspired by the original Vichy model #622,this model was created by Michel Bertrand of Switzerland,successor to the original Vichy firm,using some original Vichy/Triboulet parts from the original Paris workshop,including the man's finely sculpted head with original paint,the torso mechanism,and a six-tune musical movement. Completed in 1990,commissioned by the Steinbaum's,Michel Bertrand's signature is inside the base.

Sold

Sold: $38,000

Superb French Musical Clock with Highly Animated Acrobats,Possibly Phalibois

Lot #61

30" (76 cm.) A gilded,garland-entwined arrangement is set upon an oval ebony-wooden base,centering a theatre-like mirrored alcove in which a boy acrobat performs balancing acts on the soles of his fellow acrobat. Above the alcove is a clock (unsigned) with enameled,porcelain dial,spring suspension,two-train time and strike (hours and half-hours) and its original pendulum. Movements and Music. Extraordinary and numerous variations on the acrobat's dance include the up & down movement of both his thighs,both his calves in-and-out,his left arm,the lifting-off of his cap in salutation,and his head nodding. The adult figure on his back moves both his legs side-to-side as well as turning his head side-to-side. The animations are controlled by a large,pinned and bridged wooden cylinder mounted above the musical movement and drive by the latter's mainspring. There are 11 cam-riders,7 which direct finely threaded connections that pass directly up and into the rear of the boy acrobat in order to effect the separate animations. The four-air cylinder musical,serial number 21194,has a 5_" l. cylinder and a cast brass,copper-plated bedplate. There are 11 animations and four tunes.Phalibois,Paris,circa 1865,with musical movement of L'Epee of Sainte-Suzanne/Montheliard,France. When seeking a quality musical box,it was not uncommon for Parisian automaton-makers to chose their fellow countryman rather than Swiss makers.

Sold

Sold: $23,000

French Musical Automaton "Fiddler and Dancing Dwarf" by Renou

Lot #60

17" (43 cm.) Arranged upon a velvet-covered wooden platform is a wooden stool upon which is seated a fiddler with composition head (hidden reglue low on neck socket),glass eyes,painted decorations,smiling expression with painted teeth,fleecy hair,carton torso and legs,bisque hands,wearing silk and velvet costume and holding a wooden fiddle. Standing in front on a wooden dancing floor is a composition head dwarf with sculpted hair and over-sized head with painted features,bisque hands and feet,wearing a clown costume. The dwarf is actually supported from a metal rod that protrudes from under the wooden stool,although he appears to be standing on his own feet.Movements and Music. The fiddler nods his head from side-to-side,and in unison with his left hand which strums the fiddle. The little dwarf dances about,his motion actuated through the hidden metal rod from the stool. Music plays. The clockwork motor and music are original,having 2 brass cams controlling the dancer's bounce as well as body side-shift,and the violinist's bowing arm and head swaying side-to-side.Louis Renou,Paris,circa 1910.

Sold

Sold: $4,000

French Musical Automaton "Black Performer with Banjo" Attributed to Leopold Lambert

Lot #59

23" (58 cm.) Standing upon a flat velvet-covered platform is a man with paper-mache head,brown complexion,brown glass eyes,articulated eye lids,hinged jaw,two rows of painted teeth,black mohair goatee,coral lips,slender torso and legs of paper-mache,their shape enhanced by tightly fitted black tights and large red silk shoes. The man wears red silk long-tailed jacket,ruffled shirt,top hat,watch fob with faux-jewel,and carries a long-stemmed banjo. Movements and Music. Moving his head in a convoluted yet realistic way,as though in time to the music,he open and closes his eyelids,and open his mouth as though singing in time to the music. He strums the banjo,and music plays. Attributed to Leopold Lambert,Paris,circa 1890. The highly theatrical original costume complements and enhances his well modeled character face.

Sold

Sold: $7,000

French Musical Automaton "Black Man with Fiddle" Attributed to Leopold Lambert

Lot #58

27" (69 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden platform is a paper-mache man with ebony-black complexion and highly-characterized expression,his wide beaming smile enhancing the highly sculpted cheek-bones. He has brown glass eyes,articulated eyelids,sculpted thick black brows,hinged jaw,painted teeth,carton torso and legs with slender adult shape,paper-mache hands,black wiry hair,and is wearing a fine original costume comprising jacket with long tails,patterned vest,shirt with high flared collar,chain fob,black leggings,red silk shoes,and carrying wooden fiddle with painted floral decorations.Movement and Music. Standing proudly and with a wonderful gleeful expression,he turns his head side-to-side,nods,strums the fiddle,and blinks his eyes while music plays. Leopold Lambert,Paris,circa 1890. A closely similar model appeared in the Lambert catalog as Negre mandoliniste,model 24bis. The head was described particularly as "caracterisee" suggesting that a unique character model had been sculpted for this automaton.

Sold

Sold: $13,000

French Musical Automaton "Spanish Lady with Tambourine" by Leopold Lambe

Lot #57

18" (46 cm.) Standing upon a patterned gold velvet-covered wooden base is a bisque-headed doll with blue glass paperweight inset eyes,closed mouth,painted features,pierced ears,brunette human hair,bisque shoulder-plate,very shapely torso and slender legs of adult female,bisque forearms. The doll wears her richly detailed original costume of Spanish tambourine player,and holds a tambourine in one hand,and a fan in the other,Movements and Music. Tilting her head from side-to-side,she continuously shakes the tambourine,and periodically brings the fan to her face. Merry music,that lends the appearance to be in time to her movements,accompanies. Leopold Lambert,circa 1890,the model appeared in the firm's catalog as #40,named "Espagnole".

Sold

Sold: $5,500

French Musical Automaton "The Gypsy Dancer with Tambourine" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #56

27" (69 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden base is a bisque-head doll with brown glass paperweight eyes,closed mouth,painted features,pierced ears,brunette human hair wig,bisque shoulder plate and bisque hands,shapely female torso hinged below the waist,slender paper-mache legs,silk and velvet costume with pearl and bead trim,elaborate coiffe,tambourine with bells. Movement and Music. Leaning backward,posed to begin her dance,she nods her head and turns it side-to-side,while shaking the tambourine three times. Then her head and upper torso move in opposing directions as though in a sinuous dance. Two tunes play,Il Basio Valse,and Blanche de Castillo,according to the paper tune label on the wooden base. Leopold Lambert,circa 1890,with commissioned portrait head from Emile Jumeau,marked "8". The automaton portrays a graceful dancer with unusual pivoting of hips,and the rarer model bisque head,bisque shoulder-plate with defined bosom,and bisque hands lend extra luxury detail. The costume and velvet base cover are appropriately re-worked; there are two hidden hairlines on the shoulder plate.

Sold

Sold: $4,000

French Musical Automata "Bust of Male Banjo Player with Grand Finale" by Vichy

Lot #55

20" (51 cm.) The identical mechanical model to #54 except with variations in facial sculpt and complexion,having row of painted teeth,costuming,and finish of plinth. The eyes blink alternately,and the quality of music is very fine. Gustave Vichy,circa 1900. Ex-collection Samuel F. Pryor before its acquisition by Bunny and Jerry Steinbaum. Having ornate Vichy key.

Sold

Sold: $10,500

French Musical Automaton "Bust of Banjo Player with Grand Finale" by Gustave Vichy

Lot #54

20" (51 cm.) Posed upon a nicely shaped black wooden plinth is a soft-brown-complexioned man with paper-mache head,beautifully defined features with high cheek bones and defined strong throat,brown glass eyes with articulated leather eyelids,open mouth,wiry black hair,carton torso,paper-mache hands. He is wearing a fine silk costume,black derby hat and is holding a four-string banjo. Movement and Music. Turning his head from side-to-side,blinks his eyes,teasingly sticks out his tongue just to the tip of his lips,and peacefully strums the banjo,Suddenly,as though to signal that the performance is ended,he raises his strumming hand high in an elegant sweept and sticks out his full tongue as though to signal the finale. Two tunes play,and appear to be synchronized to the grand finale movement. Gustave Vichy,Paris,circa 1890. Bust automata were presented by both Vichy and Roullet & Decamps and were popular salon decorations. Most often they depicted persons of exotic cultures such as Morocco or Japan. The piece has the G.V. initial on its key,and the complexion retains a superb original patina.

Sold

Sold: $10,000

Extremely Rare French Musical Automaton "Street Performing Duo" by Phalibois

Lot #53

33" (84 cm.) h. x 29"w. 15"d. Standing upon a large wooden platform with pale golden velvet cover and with a velvet-covered balustrade,pedestal and urn in the background is a rakishly smiling handsome black-complexioned man with paper-mache head,glass eyes,articulated eyelids,hinged jaw with painted teeth,wiry black hair and goatee,slender carton torso and legs,paper-mache hands,wearing a silk patterned shirt and patterned velvet breeches,leather shoes,and holding a five-string banjo. Alongside is his young companion,having black-complexioned paper-mache head,glass eyes,black fleecy hair,carton torso and legs,wearing brown velvet suit,and carrying a wooden hoop. Movements and Music. Standing proudly,the Banjo Player is the star performer. He turns his entire body from left-to-right as though swaying to the music,strums his five-string banjo,moves his head from side-to-side and taps along to the music with his left leg,blinks his eyelids and opens and closes his mouth as though singing along,all the while ignoring his young companion who is making his own attempt at entertaining the on-lookers. The young boy swings his hoop to and fro,lifts his right leg,then his left,and then he leaps entirely up in his attempt to jump the hoop - alas,never succeeding. Two tunes play. There are a total of 11 animations deriving from just 9 wooden cams on the inside. Henry Phalibois,Paris,circa 1910. The animations are very untypical and no other example of this model is know to exist.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Clown with Magic Trick Chains" by Roullet & Decamps

Lot #52

19" (48 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden base with four wooden ball feet is a bisque-headed clown with painted clown decorations,blue glass paperweight inset eyes,open mouth with bisque articulated tongue,pierced ears,two-color three-dimensional wiry clown hair,carton torso and legs,bisque forearms. He is wearing a vivacious satin clown costume with hand-painted butterfly designs and red satin shoes,and is holding an intertwined metal chain in his hands. Movements and Music. The clown stands proudly,holding the magic trick chain in his hands,as though demonstrating how he can untangle the chain (which he never does,despite working and working). Meanwhile he turns his head side-to-side,his tongue teasingly at his lips,and then finally,he sassily sticks out his tongue at his on-lookers. One tune plays.Roullet & Decamps,Paris,circa 1890,the automaton appeared in the firm's catalog as model #257,described as "Clown anneau". In fine pristine condition,the clown is preserved in his original box.

Sold

Sold: $6,000

French Musical Automaton "Dancing Girl with Tambourine" by Roullet & Decamps

Lot #51.1

31" (79 cm.) Centered on a maroon velvet-covered wooden base with wooden bun feet,is a bisque-headed doll with blue glass eyes,painted features,open mouth,four porcelain teeth,dimpled chin,blonde mohair wig,carton torso with shapely female bosom and waist,carton legs,the left leg with hinged articulation at the hips and knee,bisque forearms. She is wearing ivory silk satin Hungarian costume with gold metallic edging,matching velvet vest,veiled coiffe,and carrying a richly decorated tambourine with silk ribbons and bells. Movement and Music. Nodding her head side-to-side as though in time to the music,she pivots her wrist back and forth to shake the tambourine,and repeatedly stamps her foot as though a dance maneuver. Music plays. Roullet et Decamps,circa 1900,with bisque head,model 1309,by Simon and Halbig.

Sold

Sold: $4,250

French Musical Automaton "Follies Dancing Girl" by Roullet & Decamps

Lot #51

24" (61 cm.) Posed on one toe,upon a velvet-covered wooden platform,is a bisque-headed doll with brown glass paperweight eyes,closed mouth,painted features,brunette human hair,bisque shoulder plate,carton torso and legs in slender female shape,with hinging below the waist,and bisque forearms and hands. she is wearing a silk and lace festival costume and is holding a brass bell in one hand,and a black-bisque-head party marotte in the other. Movements and Music. As though delicately dancing about. she bends side-to-side at the waist,half-pirouetting on one toe,twisting her right wrist as though to ring the bell,and then,turning her head to the left,she lifts her left hand,waving the marotte in a festive party manner. Music plays. Roullet & Decamps,circa 1890,with commissioned portrait bisque head from Jumeau. The one-toe dancer was a popular object in the firm's line for some time,and was presented as ballerina,tambourine dancer or sometimes with a garland of flowers.

Sold

Sold: $5,500

French Musical Automaton "Persian Lady Playing the Guitar" by Roullet et Decamps

Lot #50.1

23" (58 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden platform is a bisque-head lady with blue glass eyes,open mouth,four teeth,and dramatically decorated eyes and eye brows. She has a brunette mohair wig,carton torso with lady shape and articulation at the waist,elongated slender legs,bisque forearms,and is wearing her original blue silk satin dress decorated with bead-attached gold coins,and matching cap. She holds a wooden guitar with painted floral decorations.Movements and Music. Strumming the guitar with her right hand,the lady leans back and forth at the waist in a sinuous manner,her head turning independently. Music plays. Roullet et Decamps,circa 1900,with original bisque head marked "1159 Germany Simon & Halbig,S&H 6". The model appeared in the R&D catalog as model 518,the larger of two examples of this piece.

Sold

Sold: $3,500

French Musical Automaton "Mexicain Joueur de Mandeline" by Roullet et Decamps

Lot #50

29" (74 cm.) Standing upon a red velvet-covered platform is a handsome man representing a Mexican troubadour or mariachi performer,having a golden-brown-complexioned leather-covered paper-mache head,brown glass eyes,articulated leather eyelids,painted features,open mouth with painted double row of teeth,black fleecy hair,carton torso and legs,and paper-mache hands. He is wearing his original silk fitted shirt and pants with rich metallic decoration,silk shawl,wide tie,and fringed hat. He carries a uniquely-shaped seven-string African-style double-necked mandolin.Movements and Music. He moves his head in a circular side-to-side motion as well as nodding,blinks his eyes,and strums the mandolin in a realistic manner. He moves his lips as though crooning along to the music. There are two tunes. Roullet & Decamps,circa 1890,the rare model appeared in their catalog as model #190,and was surely designed to appeal to the fashionable international clientele traveling to the 1889 Paris International Exposition. It was offered in two sizes.

Sold

Sold: $15,000

French Automaton "The Black Vaudeville Performer Tipping His Hat" by Roullet & Decamp

Lot #49

28" (71 cm.) Standing upon a large wooden platform,posed in a jaunty insouciant manner as though about to begin his performance,is a black-complexioned paper-mache man with highly characterized yet handsome features,glass eyes with articulated eyelids,wide smile with painted teeth,black wiry hair,elongated slender torso and legs,and brown paper-mache hands. He is wearing a silk costume and sash,leather vest with button front,and has a tall hat on his head. He is standing on one foot,seemingly supported by his fancy walking stick. Movement. To begin his performance,he taps his foot four times,then surprisingly spins the cane (which evidently was not supporting him after all!),and raises his right hand to flip his hat onto his nose where he balances it for a short time before flicking it back onto the top of his head. To signal the end of his act,he blinks his eyes and turns his head to the audience. Roullet et Decamps,circa 1910. Only two other examples of this rare piece are known,one appearing in Automata,The Golden Age by Bailly,page 140,identified as "Fashionable Juggler",and the other,an early electrified version,previously in the Gaston Decamps archives,both presented as a white-complexioned gentleman.

Sold

Sold: $15,000

Very Rare and Unique French Automaton "Temperature's Rising" by Renou

Lot #48

Standing upon a curved street curb upon which is resting a public street thermometer is a gentleman with a highly characterized paper-mache head,wig,bisque hands,and wearing his original uniquely designed costume that accommodates his unusual activity. He holds a pince-nez in his right hand and walking stick in his left hand. The entire arrangement is presented upon a velvet-covered wooden platform. Movement and Music. Lifting the pince-nez to his face,the man nods in amazement as he witnesses the temperature rising. Then,amusingly,as the temperature goes up,so does he,his body rising as his legs and neck lengthen. Eventually,the temperature reading abruptly drops,he lowers his pince-nez,and he descends to his original height. The scene is accompanied by a melody from a musical box movement.Louis Renou,Paris,circa 1900,the automaton illustrates Renou's talent for gaining the most optical effect from a design of limited mechanical complexity; the amusing piece is,in fact,as much fun to view from behind as from in front. Extremely rare,not another model is known. This particular piece was exhibited at Centre Beaugrenelle in Paris in 1980 where it made its way to the Steinbaum Collection where it has remained until this day.

Sold

Sold: $13,500

French Musical Automaton "Clown with Lute" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #47

22" (56 cm.) Posed seated upon a wooden chair on a wooden platform stage with tapestry cover is a paper-mache clown holding a mandolin with inlay decorations. The clown has an oil-painted clown complexion with fanciful clown decorations,brown glass eyes,high arched brows,open mouth with painted teeth,and a long protruding tongue. His torso and legs are carton,and his hands are bisque. The clown is wearing a crisp silk taffeta clown costume with applique star motifs,black stockings and silk slippers,and his three-dimensional mohair wig is two-toned in the classic style. Movements and Music. Strumming his mandolin throughout,he turns his head in a wide sweeping gesture,nodding. He taps his left foot several times as though seeking attention,and finally bends forward at the waist as though accepting bravo's from his audience. He sticks his tongue in and out throughout the performance. Two tunes play,"Sur le Boulevard" and "...Michel",according to the LB signed paper tune label. Leopold Lambert,circa 1895,the model named "Clown sur Chaise" in the firm's original catalog.

Sold

Sold: $12,000

French Musical Automaton "The Lute-Playing Clown" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #46

22" (56 cm.) Perched upon a painted wooden ladderback chair,his left leg crossed,and clutching a wooden lute,is a clown with paper-mache head,open mouth with tongue,brown glass paperweight eyes,and classic two-color clown wig. His original complexion is painted white with clown decorations. He has bisque hands (right forefinger restored) and is dressed in silk rich costume. The chair is arranged upon a velvet-covered wooden base with tassel trim. Movement and Music. Posed nonchalantly,the clown casually turns his head side-to-side,and then bends at the waist,leaning forward as he strums the lute. He lifts his left leg to cross his right leg,and in a saucy gesture,sticks out his tongue in mockery at his audience. There are two tunes,one being "Das Rheingold" according to remnants of the original paper tune label. Leopold Lambert,circa 1895. The automaton was illustrated in the original Lambert catalog as model #44 as "Clown sur Chaise".

Sold

Sold: $12,500

Very Rare French Musical Automaton " Hercules,the Weight-Lifter" Attributed to Roullet & Decamps

Lot #45

36" (91 cm.) h. x 16"w. x 20"d. Standing upon a wooden rectangular platform is a trim but muscular weight-lifter,having head and hands of painted paper-mache with highly characterized face,sandy hair,blue glass eyes and articulated eyelids. He is re-costumed appropriately in vintage silk and velvet ensemble designed to add drama to the performance,and he stands before a red velvet-covered wooden bench upon which his weight is resting. Movement and Music. Hercules bows at the waist until his upper torso is nearly parallel with the floor before he reaches for his weight,grabbing it with his right hand and proceeding to lift it as he raises himself back in an upright position. Then his arm continues to lift the weight even higher. He handles the performance with grace,smiling all the time,and pauses,looking side-to-side with eyelids blinking. He resumes his act,lowering and returning the weight to the bench. He releases the weight and comes up empty-hands,proud of his accomplishment. The animation is excellent,controlled by a clockwork motor with five brass cams in the base. There is an appropriate non-original musical movement that plays four tunes. Attributed to Roullet & Decamps,circa 1900,an extremely rare model. Although the overall designs is closer to Henry Phalibois,the cams are of brass in the Decamps manner. An identical example was featured in the "Festival Mondial l'Automate" in Brussels,and a later electrified version is on exhibition in the Musee d l'Automate in Souillac,France. The Hercules theme was also presented by Vichy,model 537 in his catalog,named "Hercule faisant les halteres" although no examples are known to exist. Further,the 1900 wholesale catalog of Reiner,Pelzer & Co of Cologne offered a coin-operated version in a floor-standing arcade cabinet.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Juggling Clown on Stool" by Vichy

Lot #44

30" (76 cm.) Seated upon a four-legged wooden stool,his left foot resting on the bottom rung,is a paper-mache headed clown with white complexion,brown glass eyes,painted clown decorations,and two-color clownish hair. The clown wears his original and well-preserved diamond-patterned clown costume over carton torso,paper-mache legs and lower arms. A wooden stick and spiral-striped ball are held in his right hand. Movements and Music. Nodding in a circular motion,he turns to the left while gesturing with his left hand as though to draw the attention of on-lookers. Then,turning to the right,he moves his right arm side-to-side,causing the ball to move up and down the stick as though he is juggling or balancing the ball. Throughout,his eyelids blink and his tongue sticks in and out,first a little and then a lot. There are two musical tunes. Vichy/Triboulet,Paris,circa 1900. The grand luxury automaton is beautifully preserved,original costume,decorations and parts,and having realistic and wonderfully synchronized activity.

Sold

Sold: $15,000

German Musical Automaton "The Blinking,Fiddling Clown" Attributed to Muller

Lot #43

24" (61 cm.) Arranged upon a faux-rosewood base with ebony border is a wooden chair upon which is seated a composition-head clown,holding a violin and bow in his hands. He has a highly characterized facial model with uptilted long nose,painted white complexion with clown decorations,open mouth,painted teeth,carrot-red mohair wig,carton torso and composition hands,wearing silk and cotton costume,velvet clown hat. Movements and Music. The clown turns his head from side-to-side while blinking his eyes (actually,rolling up and down),and his right arm strumming the violin. His foot is designed to tap (needs adjustment) in time to the music. Tunes play independently. Maker uncertain,attributed to Adolf Mueller,circa 1900.

Passed

The Rare and Celebrated French Musical Automaton "Clown Musicians on Stage" by Vichy Triboulet

Lot #42

30" (76 cm.) Standing upon a wooden platform with five-step stairway,gracefully-edged shape and painted and carpeted floor are two clowns,ready to perform. Each has a head modeled of plaster composition with oil-painted clown complexions and decorations,piercingly brilliant blue glass eyes,articulated eyelids,white mohair clown wig,and silk costume embroidered with musical symbols. One has a well-defined scowling expression and the other has a wide beaming smile with defined teeth. The "instruments" are whimsical confections,one wrought from a saucepan and the other carved of wood. Movement and Music. On cue,they begin their stage act,heads turning side-to-side,eyes blinking,and step-marching in unison while strumming their instruments. Then the sullen clown suddenly attempts to kick the cheerful clown off the stage. The cheerful clown is indifferent. He simply turns in the other direction and kicks out of sequence. Music accompanies their performance and a large Vichy-style motor drives the movements from six cams. Vichy/Triboulet,circa 1910. The automaton was acquired by Jerry and Bunny Steinbaum in a collection sale in Monaco in 1984. The scene of competing personalities,almost a comedy/tragedy theme may have been inspired by the vastly popular tales of "Jean qui rire" and "Jean qui pleure" that were fixtures in Parisian popular culture at the end of the 19th century,and whose manifestations included Offenbach's 1864 operetta and the early silent film of Louis Lumiere that showed in Paris in 1897.

Sold

Sold: $76,000

French Mechanical "Window Tapper Clown Attributed to J.A.F. with Provenance

Lot #41

38" (97 cm.) A portly clown-faced character with paper-mache head,bald pate,glass eyes with articulated eyelids and eyebrows,and hinged jaw is posed standing on a wooden platform alongside wooden-framed signage with alternating cards. The clown wears a colorful costume with patterned tunic and tassel-trimmed breeches. Movements. The clown nods and turns his head while his right arm taps (presumably a window to attract passersby) with a large wooden stick,and his left arm moves sideways to gesture in a pointing motion. His eyebrows and lower lip move as his eyes look right-to-left,all in very exaggerated and animated movements. The message sign continually rotates revealing alternately a series of ten display cards. The animations are directed by five large brass cams,and the whole is driven by a 220-volt motor which turns a pulley-driven gearbox. Jouets et Automates Francais (J.A.F.),successors to Vichy/Triboulet,circa 1930,this piece also bearing the name of their English distributor,Binger of London. Ex-collection Jack Donovan,then Jon and Andrea Robertson where it appeared in the window of their Museum of Automata in York,England,until the museum's closing when it was acquired by Jerry and Bunny Steinbaum of Beverly Hills where it has remained until today.

Sold

Sold: $12,500

Six-Tune Musical Automaton "The Bird Trainer" by Michel Bertrand After a Vichy Design

Lot #40

43" (109 cm.) A high Renaissance-style minstrel from the halls of royalty is posed standing upon a velvet-covered stand,holding a flute in his right hand and with a brightly feathered bird perched on his left hand. His Asian-featured composition head,sculpted uniquely for this piece,has articulated eyelids and lower lip that opens to reveal the upper row of teeth and a mysterious yet gently smiling expression. He has black hair,moustache and goatee. His right hand has three articulated fingers to "play" the flute. The Bird Trainer is costumed in deep blue velvet with gold fleur-de-lis design,matching cape with orange lining and floral embroidery,lace cuffs,blue stockings and matching velvet slippers. The fleur-de-lis theme is echoed in brass decoration on corners of the platform,aside the brass plaque with maker's name,and even in the form of a double-fleur-de-lis winding handle. The body is of paper-mache,plaster and carved wood. Movements and Music,Beginning his lesson,the Bird Trainer nods,turns his head,moves his lips as if announcing the performance,blinks his eyes,and then brings the flute to his mouth. As he "plays" the flute,his fingers move,with the concealed cylinder music box sounding the melody. Then,removing the flute from his lips,he awaits the bird repeating the song. The bird takes its turn,turning its head from side-to-side,and then,teasingly,singing a different melody that emerges from a concealed bellows unit. Occasionally,the bird pauses,as though to reconsider,but never giving-in to imitate the man-made melody. The figure contains a long-running spring motor,and has nine animations and six melodious tunes. Michel Bertrand,Switzerland,1990,inspired by the 1890 Vichy original known as "Dresseur d'Oiseau". The figure represents a scene from the days when flute players were engaged to train caged birds to sing human melodies for royal amusement. Of the Vichy originals,only two examples are known to still exist. It is believed that Bertrand created only two examples of his inspired version of The Bird-Trainer,this being one and acquired directly by Jerry and Bunny Steinbaum from Michel Bertrand. It has rermained in the Steinbaum collection until this time.

Sold

Sold: $26,000

Rare French Musical Automaton "Turc Fumeur",Known as Narghile Smoker,by Lamber

Lot #39

25" (63 cm.) Seated cross-legged on a velvet-covered wooden platform is a dark complexioned Turk wearing exotic costume of silks and velvet with metallic trimmed slippers and red turban,having brown glass paperweight eyes,and original finish on his paper-mache head,leg and hands. He holds a coffee cup in his left hand and the mouthpiece of the pipe in his right.Movements and Music. After winding,one would fill the hookah with pipe tobacco,then activate the movement to create a necessary vacuum,and finally light the tobacco. The smoker looks side-to-side,raises the mouthpiece and bends his head as if to inhale,motions back and then exhales. He intersperses his smoking with raising the coffee cup to his mouth for a sip. The figure smokes through a kidskin bellows that pulls the pipe smoke from a tube leading up to his right arm and expels the smoke from a tube leading to mouth. The piece contains the fully original clockwork mechanism with a musical movement playing "Ca c'est une chose" and "C'est Paris"; both music and mechanism function superbly. Leopold Lambert,Paris,circa 1890,model #28 in the Lambert catalog,named "Turc Fumeur",and likely designed to appeal to an affluent international tourist such as a visitor to the 1889 Paris International Exposition.

Sold

Sold: $18,000

French Musical Automaton "The Ethiopian Harpist" by Gustave Vichy

Lot #38

32" (81 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered flat wooden platform is a strikingly beautiful woman with leather-over-paper-mache head having ebony-black complexion and beautifully defined facial structure. She has brown glass eyes,articulated eyelids,painted features,slightly parted lips with double row of painted teeth,pierced ears,black fleecy hair,carton torso and and slender legs,and bare feet. Her hands have articulated knuckles allowing her to realistically play the harp strings. She is wearing a vibrant silk and lace costume that is an authentic copy of the original,of antique fabrics,along with matching red satin necklace,golden head-band and wrist-bands bedecked with golden medallions. The lady is posed behind a wooden harp decorated with cast brass woman's head figurals. Movements and Music. While music plays,she proudly lifts her long slender neck,turning her head side-to-side. She pauses at each side turn,blinks her eyelids a number of times,all the while playing the harp. The highly-articulated knuckles of her fingers bend in a realistic manner. The entire mechanism including the cylinder musical movement is concealed within her carton torso,and activated by the signature acorn-shaped Vichy stop/start knob. Gustave Vichy,Paris,circa 1870. The exceptional original and beautifully preserved complexion of the rare piece accentuates the delicate and realistic movement. A prominent model in the early Vichy catalogs,the model was considered a luxury creation in its size,number of animations,quality of music and fine detail of accessory.

Passed

French Musical Automaton "Ethiopian Flutist" by Gustave Vichy

Lot #37

32" (81 cm.) Standing casually upon a velvet-covered flat base with one bare foot flat and the other posed on tip-toe is a handsome ebony-complexioned man with early style paper-mache/kidskin head with oil-painted features and complexion,brown glass eyes,articulated lashes,mohair lashes,ivory teeth,black fleecy hair,moustache,goatee and brows,gutta percha hands with articulated fingers,carton torso and paper-mache legs and bare feet. He is wearing a bronze silk shirt with blue silk tie,magenta silk satin jacket with silk collar and lapels,silk short trousers,earrings and carrying a maple wooden flute. Movements and Music. Raising the flute to his lips while simultaneously lowering his head. his fingers play the flute,each finger independently of the other in an extraordinarily lifelike manner. His hands are made of gutta percha so as to be subtle,yet firm enough to support all the interior linkages and springs for finger animation. Then,finishing his tune,he lowers the flute,blinks both eyelids as though in reverence for the music,turns his head from side-to-side,and moves his lips as though announcing the next tune. There are two tunes that are played in accordance with the action. Gustave Vichy,circa 1878,the automaton appeared as "Flutiste Ethiopien" in the Vichy historical catalog and was a deposed model by that firm,marked G.V. on the winding key. It is likely that the luxurious model was aimed at the wealthy international clientele that visited Paris during the 1878 International Exposition.

Passed

Rare French Musical Automaton "Chinoise Verseuse" by Lambert

Lot #36

19" (48 cm.) Posed upon a velvet-covered platform is a bisque-headed and bisque-arm Chinese lady with amber tinted complexion,brown glass eyes,original wig in upswept chignon,and highly characterized features including high cheekbones,slender facial modeling and aquiline nose. Her slender carton torso is costumed in its original silk kimono and sash,and she is holding a miniature wooden tea tray and pot. Movements and Music. The lady sweeps her gaze from side-to-side by turning her head,tentatively nods,pauses,lifts the teapot (twice) and appears to pour tea into the cup,then offers the cup,pauses and repeats the action. The paper tune card on the underside lists Carmen Marche. Leopold Lambert,circa 1890. The Chinese lady tea server was presented in the firm's catalog as #30 titled Chinese Verseuse. The uniquely modeled head was created by Jumeau under special commission and appears on no other model of automaton,or either,in fact as an articulated doll,indicating the prestige nature of the piece as conceived by Lambert. In a nod to the special sculpt created for the automaton,Lambert described the piece as having "Tete caracterisee".

Sold

Sold: $12,500

French Musical Automata "Bebe Russe" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #35

19" (48 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered base is a bisque-headed girl with glass paperweight eyes,closed mouth,nicely painted features,pierced ears,blonde mohair wig,carton torso and legs,bisque forearms. She is wearing a Russian folklore costume in rich silks with metallic trim,and holds a wooden coffee pot in one hand,and a matching tray with two cups,sugar pot and creamer in the other. Movement and Music. Turning her head from side-to-side in synchronized movement with her arms,she lifts the coffee pot as though to pour,and moves the tray to receive the coffee and then extends the tray as though offering the refreshment. One tune plays according to the partial tune label on base. Leopold Lambert,circa 1890,the model appeared in the Lambert catalog named Bebe Russe. The head,marked "Depose Tete Jumeau 4",was commissioned from Emile Jumeau. The model was a nod to the close cultural and social relationship between Russia and France during the late 19th century.

Sold

Sold: $5,250

Extremely Rare French Musical Automaton "Marchande de Masques" by Gustave Vichy

Lot #34

36" (91 cm.) 43" with parasol. A slender-featured refined lady with paper-mache head having defined high cheek bones,and aquiline nose has a rich oil-painted amber-tinted complexion and facial features,brown glass eyes with dreamy expression achieved by heavy articulated eyelids,open mouth with row of teeth,and original black human hair with defined widow's peak. Over her carton torso she is wearing an original embroidered silk kimono costume with rich embroidery including a large and elegant crane,various under-layers,sash,and silk slippers,and carrying a very large wooden handled paper parasol,and lacquered tray on which are displayed paper-mache masks that she is offering for sale. Movements and Music. Holding a parasol in one hand and a fan in the other,the lady pivots her head,raises and lowers her eyelids,while gracefully twirling the parasol between her fingers and occasionally lifting the mask to cover her face and then lowering it again. There are two tunes that accompany the music. Gustave Vichy,Paris,circa 188 9,the model was actually presented in the Vichy catalog as model #448 named "Marchande de Masques" although commonly known as the Japanese Lady Mask Seller. The model was deposed by Vichy and bears the original Vichy trademark lever and key. So important was this automaton that it was described in an 1892 feature in the journal La Nature. This example is in a remarkable state of preservation,with superb original costume,tray,hanging masks and even extremely rare original parasol. It is functioning beautifully. Ex-collection Jacques Damiot,(Paris 1914-1983) before its acquisition by Jerry and Bunny Steinbaum,photographed in Les Automates by Eliane Margot (1959).

Sold

Sold: $57,500

Extremely Rare French Musical Automaton "Kneeling Egyptian Harpist" by Gustave Vichy

Lot #33

24" (61 cm.) Posed kneeling upon a three-stepped wooden platform with paint-marbleized and carpeted finish is a slender and refined lady,with painted paper-mache head and torso,brown glass eyes with articulated eyelids,flowing brunette human hair,painted sandals and wearing an airy crepe de chine flowing robe and jewelry described in the original catalog as "costume magnifique enrichi de pierreries". The lady is kneeling on one knee while the other is bent,realistically posed beside a wooden string harp with elegant shape and metal Egyptian head terminal.Movements and Music. Her right arm moves laterally to the instrument as her right wrists bends to "pluck" the strings. Alternately her left arm rises and lowers vertically in an arc to "strum" the celestial chords. Her head turns and nods in a realistic manner as she changes her gaze from the harp-playing to a presumed salutation of the audience. In addition,her breastplate heaves slowly,providing the natural effect that she is breathing. Her eyelids open and close. There are two tunes. Gustave Vichy,Paris,circa 1890. The model appeared in an early Vichy catalog as #661,entitled "Egyptian a genoux",with "modele depose" indication. The extremely rare model is seldom found today,this example wonderfully preserved with luxury details in creation,accessories,music and movement.

Sold

Sold: $36,000

Rare Grand-Sized French Mechanical "Bear Drummer" by Decamps

Lot #32

27" (69 cm.) A lush-fur-covered paper-mache bear standing on back legs is posed upon a velvet-covered wooden platform,having black bead eyes,and carved wooden paws,nose and mouth. He holds a wooden drumstick in each paw,and a large drum is suspended from the leather strap slung across his chest. Movement. Turning his head from side-to-side as though in unison with the drum beat,he also nods his head,opens and closes his jaw,and beats the drum in unison. Decamps,circa 1900. The bear appeared in the Decamps catalog as model #315. The performing trained bear was a popular concept in early 20th century,both in real life carnivals and in these playful automata. The price of this model was 100 francs,deeming it a fairly luxury piece,as does the quality workmanship of the accessory fine leather drum strap and drum. Few examples in this grand size can be found today.

Sold

Sold: $7,000

French Mechanical "Brown Bear with Cup and Bottle" by Decamps

Lot #31

14" (36 cm.) The brown fur-covered paper-mache bear features carved wooden paws and ferocious-appearing bone teeth. He holds a cup in his left paw and a bottle in his right. Movement. He lifts the bottle to pour liquid into the cup,then lowers the bottle and lifts the cup to his mouth to drink. His head nods up to swallow and his jaw closes. Mechanically operating well,although needing adjustment to allow the bottle to pour neatly into the cup. Decamps,circa 1915,from their series of amusing animal automata.

Sold

Sold: $2,200

French Mechanical "Brown Bear Blowing Bubbles" by Decamps

Lot #30

17" (43 cm.) A brown fur-covered paper-mache bear with carved wooden paws is holding a bubble pipe in one paw and a bowl with sudsy water in the other. Movement. Dipping the pipe into the bowl,then lifting the pipe,he is designed to blow bubbles into the air (mechanism needs work). The action is created by a series of internal piping. Decamps,circa 1910,from their series of animal automata in amusing lifelike activities.

Sold

Sold: $3,200

French Musical Automaton "Little Boy Blowing Bubbles" by Roullet & Decamps

Lot #29

17" (43 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden platform is a bisque-headed boy with brown glass paperweight inset eyes,painted features,open mouth,teeth,pierced ears,have carton torso and legs,bisque forearms. He is wearing a velvet boy's suit and cap with silk shirt and tie,black shoes and socks,and holds a metal bowl of sudsy water in one hand,and wooden pipe in the other. Movements and Music. After dipping the wooden pipe in the sudsy water,he lifts it to his mouth and appears to blow bubbles. The bubbles actually occur from a bellows system hidden inside his torso which creates a breeze,and hence,the bubbles. Music plays and bubbles appear. Roullet & Decamps,circa 1900,with bisque head from Emile Jumeau. A charming automaton with timeless appeal.

Sold

Sold: $4,250

Rare French Musical Automata "The Bubble Blower Marquis" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #28

26" (66 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered platform is a bisque-head gentleman costumed as Marquis with unique and highly characterized facial model,arranged periwig,inset glass eyes,blushed eyeshadow,cheeks and tip of elongated pointy nose,painted playing card markings on forehead and chin,carton torso and legs,bisque lower arms (right hand restored) wearing couturier-quality replaced velvet and silk brocade Marquis costume. He holds a bubble pipe in his right hand and a bowl of sudsy water in his left hand. Movement and Music. The Marquis dips the pipe into the bowl of sudsy water and raises it to his mouth. He then merrily blows the bubbles,an amusing childlike activity that is a charming contradiction to his aristocratic appearance. The bubble-blowing effect is created by the bellows mechanism inside his torso,pushing air through his band and into the pipe,thus causing bubbles to appear. Music plays throughout. Leopold Lambert,Paris,circa 1895,with very rare bisque head of unique sculpt that was created for automaton use only,its impish expression delightfully suited for the bubble-blowing activity. The head,signed with script letter N,was likely created by Jumeau who designed unique head models for automaton use,such as the Chinese Tea Server,and the Crying Child with Polichinelle (lots 36 and 103 of this catalog),Another automaton,with this same rare facial model,appears as a smoking Marquis,Lot#107 in this catalog,although other examples with this facial model are not known to exist.

Sold

Sold: $12,500

French Musical Automaton "Little Girl Training Dog on Barrel"

Lot #27

Standing upon a velvet-covered base is a bisque-head doll with brown glass paperweight inset eyes,open mouth,porcelain teeth,painted facial features,brown mohair wig,carton torso and legs,bisque forearms,wearing silk costume. She holds a baton in her right hand,and stands in front of a paper-mache barrel on which is posed a little fur-covered dog. Movements and Music. While the little girl turns head side-to-side and lifts her baton up and down as though instructing,her little dog revolves about on the barrel as though performing tricks. Mechanism needs adjustment to function smoothly. Maker uncertain,circa 1900.

Sold

Sold: $3,500

French Musical Automaton "The Bubble Blowing Shepherdess" by Marcu

Lot #26

22" (56 cm.) h. x 22"w. x 17"d. Arranged upon an ebony wooden rectangular base with painted floral trim is a pastoral setting made of painted paper-mache featuring a richly dressed young shepherdess with bisque head,blown glass paperweight blue eye and bisque hands. She is perched on a rock outcropping,and she holds a bowl of sudsy water in her lap and bubble blower in her right hand.Movements and Music. Turning and nodding her head,she dips her bubble pipe into the bowl,raises the bubble-blowing pipe to her lips and then bubbles appear at the end of the pipe. Her left arm raises a bouquet of flowers to and fro. At her side there is a twisted glass waterfall pouring into a pond where a bird turns side-to-side and then dips down to take a drink. The tranquil,yet deft,performance is very realistic,based upon an internal bellows with tubing that runs up her left arm to the pipe,pushing air to blow the bubbles. Two tunes are provided by a 36-note Reuge movement. Michel Marcu,Chalautre la Grande,France,circa 1980. The artist emerged as an automaton creator in the late 1970s,building a variety of automata inspired by the 19th century pieces. Most of his work concentrated on small bisque-head automata with a very limited range of movements,unlike this superlative example that demonstrates greater complexity and artistic design.

Passed

American Musical Automaton "The Ice Skater" by Witt

Lot #25

13" (33 cm.) A handsome man,with sculpted and painted facial features,wig and moustache,is presented on a flat-based platform designed to appear as though a skating rink.Movements and Music. The skater circles the rink,pirouetting,his left leg moving to and fro,his upper torso balancing side-to-side and his head also looking from side-to-side. His movement is simple,yet graceful and elegant. The music is provided by a Reuge,single-tune,28-note movement that doubles to drive the animation. Bill Witt,circa 1971. The late Bill Witt was the primary restorer of antique automata for collector Murtogh D. Guinness during the 1960s. Those antique pieces inspired him to create his own automata. The sculpted/carved and painted wooden head of the Ice Skater is actually a self-portrait of Witt. He created another that is today in the Guinness Collection at the Morris Museum.

Sold

Sold: $2,600

Rare English Automaton "The Archer" by David Secrett

Lot #24

17" (43 cm.) x 13". Arranged upon a felt-covered wooden platform is an Archer seated on a chair of Italian baroque design,dressed in English medieval garb comprising mauve jerkin,leather hood and boots,yellow shirt and red pants. The head and body of the Archer,as well as most of his mechanisms,is of finely carved and highly finished wood,primarily native English yew and walnut. The base has glass panel sides so that the mechanism can be seen in action. Movement and Music: The Archer reaches down with his right arm to pick up an arrow from the revolving four-stage "capstan" at this side. Gripping this arrow between his finger and thumb,he lifts the bow in his left hand and places the arrow into position,leaning forward as if to take aim,and even closing one eye for better accuracy. A notch in the flighted arrow engages in the bow string as the left arm draws the bow to the point of highest tension,at which time the arrow is released and flies a distance of about six feet. The Archer follows the flight with his head,stamps his right foot in satisfaction,and sticks out his tongue. The act is repeated four times in succession. A 72-note Reuge musical movement accompanies the action. 16 animations. 3 tunes. David Secrett,England,1982. The artist's background was as an accomplished cabinet maker. He was inspired to create the Archer after witnessing the exceptionally rare Japanese karakuri ningyo version of an automaton Archer. Secrett built only a small number of the Archer,each varying slightly from the next in its actions,music or composition. The complex mechanism consists of a carved wooden fusee drive and string linkages operating from 16 cams. Structurally excellent except string linkages which are slackened and require readjustment.

Sold

Sold: $6,500

Musical Box as Unusual Table Accessory

Lot #23.1

10" (25 cm.) x 10". A wooden framed tile with charming sepia image of dog head and collar,has a hidden music box within the frame that actuates from winding key and push/start lever. Circa 1900. $500/750

Sold

Sold: $200

Animated Silver Match Safe in Original Presentation Box

Lot #23

2 1/4" x 1 1/4" safe.The silver-plated over copper match safe opens to reveal an animated erotic scene. The hinged lid operates to wind the spring. The match safe is presented in a beautifully fitted fine wooden presentation. Maker unknown,circa 1900.

Sold

Sold: $2,800

Swiss Automaton Pocket Watch by Reuge

Lot #22

2 1/2" (6 cm.) In the form of a gold-plated pocket watch,it doubles as a fob,having animated scene under a bezel on the top and a beautifully engraved musical motif on the rear lid. The watch-face depicts a country scene with man-on-horse and lady.Movement and Music. The animation concerns the lady pumping well water for the horse,the horse drinking,and the man trying to keep grasp of a newly caught falcon that is trying to fly free. The hidden "surprise" of the watch is on the backside,as when the lid is opened,it reveals an animated,erotic scene. The movement has a lever escapement,17 jewels. A one-air 17-note musical movement accompanies the action. The music and animated scene can be activated anytime manually,or the alarm can be set to start the music. Reuge,S.A.,Sainte-Croix,Switzerland,circa 1990s. The pastoral scene was designed by the enameller Carlo Poluzzi after a painting by Lancret,and the design on the rear was inspired by a Moreau engraving. There is a Breguet-style ratchet winding key in the form of a lyre.

Sold

Sold: $3,000

Another Model of the French "Strolling Peacock" by Decamps

Lot #21

8 1/2" (22 cm.) A duplicate example of #20,with variations in feathering. Decamps,model 100,from his catalog,circa 1910. $3500/6500

Sold

Sold: $5,500

French Mechanical "Strolling Peacock" by Decamps

Lot #20

8 1/2" (22 cm.) A realistically modeled peacock has an interior structure comprising metal carriage that brackets the clockwork mechanism and is,in turn,enveloped by a well-contoured paper-mache bird-body,then covered with iridescent green and blue peacock plumage and having yellow glass eyes. The peacock rests upon realistic-looking metal legs,and the peacock can be aided in its walk by two hook-shaped metal supports from behind. Excluding the feathers,the bird is 8 1/2"h. When the tail is down,the length is 20",but when the tail fans out,the dimension blossoms to 23"wide and 18"height. Movements. With alternating leg movements,the peacock gracefully moves along while turning its head,and finally the tail fans out,and then returns to resting position. Decamps,the model appeared in a Decamps catalog as model 100,circa 1910.

Sold

Sold: $2,750

Outstanding and Unique 19th Century French Musical Automaton "The Magnificent Peacock"

Lot #19

54" (137 cm.) h. with tail up. Perched proudly upon a red velvet-covered walnut base above a fluted walnut pedestal is a life-sized Peacock with rich feathers in brilliant,iridescent,turquoise colors. The peacock measures 54" in depth with tail feathers down,and the width of the tail,fanned-out is 85". The peacock on pedestal with tail feathers up is 96" in height. Movement and Music. The Peacock begins its grand performance in the tail-down position,regally he turns his head and body separately from side-to-side. then he proudly raises his elegant tail plumage and fans his tail out for the fullest effect. The bird then turns side-to-side again,such that all can appreciate his beauty. At the conclusion,he lowers his tail back down in a graceful and realistic manner. All the while,music plays. The mechanism employs a spring-wound Vichy-style motor with four,large-diameter brass cams,some original and some replaced. The smoothness of the performance is partly due to roller bearing cam-riders. There is a two-tune 36-note Reuge musical movement,and while technically there are four animations,the entire performance is so seamless as to appear infinite. Maker unknown,likely French,mid-to-late 19th century,No other examples of this extremely rare model are known in this grand life-size. It was likely a special commission work,or created for presentation at Paris International Exhibition of 1878 or 1889. Although the Peacock had symbolic importance in the arts for more than 3000 years,it was during the later 19th century,especially in the Art Nouveau movement,that it came to full bloom. The homage to the Peacock in 19th century art can scarcely be over-stated. There was the scandalous Peacock Room decorated by James Whistler in 1876,the William Morris Peacock Tapestry of 1887,and the superb Indian Mayuri Peacock bowed lute,to name a few. Even within the world of magic,there was the grand-sized Peacock used by magicians such as Robert-Houdin,Maskelyne or the like,that relied on human aides off-stage to actuate the piece via hidden string linkages. This example,The Magnificent Peacock,with its original internal mechanism,functions beautifully,is perfectly preserved and a truly remarkable and unique automaton.

Sold

Sold: $42,000

French and Elaborate Musical Scene Animee "Windmill and Pond with Fisherman" by Phalibois

Lot #18

25" (64 cm.) Arranged upon an oval ebony wooden base is an elaborate vignette depicting a rural scene with hillside,pond,a windmill at the top of the hill,and a building with water wheel at the bottom. A paper-mache man with blue hat is seated in a tin boat and there are three ducks alongside the pond. as well as feathered and painted vines and leaves to create a naturalistic look to the scene. The scene is preserved under a glass dome (old repair at the bottom back) with painted background to suggest the sky. Movements and Music. The tin boat moves side-to-side as though rocking in the water while the man waves a stick at the ducks as though to frighten them away; the small duck bobs his head up and down as though drinking from the pond,and the larger duck pivots back and forth as though swimming. The waterwheel revolves,the windmill turns,and the glass waterfall appears to pour forth. There are seven movements and two tunes,altogether creating a very activated,yet charming and sentimental,country scene. Phalibois,circa 1880. This is the only example of this model with such a large number of movements and elaborate detail known to exist. Ex-collection Christian Bailly.

Sold

Sold: $5,500

Early French Paper-mache Mechanical Toy

Lot #17

10" (25 cm.) Holding the handles of an early wooden garden wheel-barrow with metal spoke wheel and dove-tailed jointing is a paper-mache man with swivel head,painted hair and moustache,carton padded torso,wooden legs with painted shoes,wearing his original silk costume with hinge-attached cap that presumably bobs up and down as he moves along. Seated on the wheelbarrow is a miniature version of the same man,presumably a child,yet also having a moustache. When keywound,the man moves his legs alternately,pushing the wheel-barrow forward. French,circa 1850,maker unknown. The mechanism is contained within the man's torso.

Sold

Sold: $1,100

Early French Hand-Wind Mechanical Toy "Woman at the Well"

Lot #16

18" (46 cm.) Standing upon a zinc-lined wooden base with faux stone and brick finish,decorated with a cast brass medallion of woman's head centered by two cherubs,is a paper-mache lady with original shaped muslin body,wearing antique costume,apron and lace cap. She stands alongside a tin pump with turning handle and internal pulley that connects to the water reservoir below. Movement. When the pump handle is turned,it causes water to arise from the reservoir below,pouring into both containers that are attached. French,circa 1840,an early and rare toy likely designed to teach the rudimentary principles of locomotion,well preserved with some fading of original paint,missing bracket at top of pump.

Sold

Sold: $2,250

French Scene Animee "Windmill and Ship at Sea",Attributed to Phalibois

Lot #15

20" (51 cm.) Arranged upon an ebony wooden oval platform is a dimensional tower with hand-painted details including man at the window,shuttered windows,pathways with fence,and such. At the top of the path is a windmill,and inside the tower is a waterwheel. A paper constructed "stormy sea" is at the side of the tower,in which is positioned a skillfully constructed wooden and paper ship. An oval glass dome with painted sea,mountain and sky scene fits over the base and provides an extra dimensional effect. Movement and Music. The windmill blades turn,the water wheel revolves,and the ship bobs up and down in the moving waves. Lovely quality music is heard. Attributed to Phalibois,circa 1875,the music and mechanism function well. Excepting the non-original windmill blades,the scenery and painting are original and artfully created.

Sold

Sold: $2,250

French Musical Automaton "La Mascotte" by Gustave Vichy

Lot #14

24" (61 cm.) Standing upon a flat velvet-covered wooden platform is a bisque-headed doll with brown glass paperweight eyes,closed mouth,lovely painted features,pierced ears,blonde mohair wig,bisque shoulder plate with carton torso and legs,bisque forearms. She is costumed in rich velvets and silk satins with hand-painted designs,and carries a uniquely-shaped wicker market basket with hinged lid that contains a bird.Movements and Music. Although the basket appears to be supported by her arm,it is actually attached to her torso by metal rods through which the action is created. The girl turns her head side-to-side and then nods while raising the lid of the basket to reveal the sleeping bird,which then awakens,lifting its head and chirping. There are two tunes. Gustave Vichy,Paris,circa 1890,The doll is marked "Depose Tete Jumeau 7". The model was likely inspired by the 1880 operetta La Mascotte by Edmond Audran that captivated Paris for more than 1000 performances. In the operetta,set in 17th century France,the farm-girl Bettina (La Mascotte) brought good luck to whoever possessed her as long she remained a virgin. In an act I duet,Bettina tells Pippo she loves him almost as much as she loves her cherished farmyard birds. This automaton delightfully captures the essence of the operetta theme.

Sold

Sold: $11,500

French Musical Automaton

Lot #13

19" (48 cm.) Standing upon a green velvet-covered base is a bisque-headed girl with large blue glass paperweight inset eyes,closed mouth,beautifully painted features,pierced ears,blonde mohair wig over cork pate,carton torso and legs,bisque forearms. She is wearing her original sienna velvet and patterned silk costume with lace trim,ivory silk bonnet,and is holding a small bird in one hand,and a bouquet of flowers in the other. Movements and Music. The little girl turns her head from side-to-side and nods,then turns her right hand to and fro as though to offer a treat to the little bird,and finally lifts her left hand as though to exhibit her trained bird. One musical tune is played; according to the original paper tune label it is Carmen.Leopold Lambert,Paris,circa 1890. The doll is marked "Depose Tete Jumeau SGDG 4". Music and mechanism function well. A rare model with charming activity.

Sold

Sold: $9,250

French Musical Automaton "Young Girl with Book and Butterfly" by Renou

Lot #12

18" (46 cm.) Seated upon a high wooden silk-cushioned chair is a bisque-head girl with blue glass movable eyes,painted features,blonde mohair wig,carton torso and lower legs,bisque forearms. A butterfly is attached to a curved wire and appears to flit above her head; she holds a book in her right hand. The little girl wears her atelier-original rose silk satin dress and slippers,with paillette-jewel and lace trim. Movements and Music. The little girl studiously reads her book while the butterfly flits about. She tries to nod her head to distract the butterfly and finally lifts her book in a "go away" manner while her eyes look upward. The butterfly,however,never leaves. Music plays. Renou,circa 1900. The doll is marked "S.H. 1039". A charming garden setting theme combines luxury costume and presentation into a timeless vignette. The object is very fresh and unplayed with,functioning well,and preserved in its original wooden packing box.

Sold

Sold: $5,000

French Animated Singing Birds "Bosquet avec Oiseaux" by Bontems

Lot #11

30" (76 cm.) x 22"w. x 12"d. Arranged upon an ebony wooden high base is a naturalistic setting featuring a large leafy tree that is populated with 17 colorful singing birds,and a butterfly,while nearby is a glass waterfall and pond. Movement and Music. The highly animated vignette includes birds looking down from above,some turning side-to-side and others pecking at the ground or drinking from the water pond. Twelve of the birds sing,with animation of the head,beak and wings,and two of the birds flit from branch to branch. The butterfly has wings a-flutter,and the waterfall appears to pour forth. Innumerable animations. Blaise Bontems,Paris,circa 1840-1850. The extremely early mechanism contains two small bellows which provide the lifelike chirping sounds,and a French clockwork motor driving a very long arbor that carries numerous wood,brass and steel-pegged cams,as well as turned wooden pulleys that create all the animations. The wooden cams and pulleys,combined with the general hand-crafted design of the mechanism,indicate that this is from the very earliest of Bontems production. Although,from 1849 onward,Bontems had advertised "mechanical pictures,musicians,and a new system for tightrope walkers" it is for these splendid bird scenes that his name is most remembered,although some critics of the time cuttingly noted that the birds were out of proportion to the tree,choosing to ignore the intricacy,fancy and romance of the piece.

Sold

Sold: $8,500

Very Rare French Singing Double-Bird Box,Attributed to Blaise Bontems

Lot #10

4 1/2" (11 cm.) x 3 1/2". Encased in an extremely ornate,bombe-contoured,cast copper case with gilt finish and tooled and engraved with numerous designs,including a detailed miniature engraving of an outdoor setting on the base featuring a waltzing couple and signed "Faucherre,sc". The box is presented in its original rosewood case with mother-of-pearl designs and burgundy silk lining.Movement and Music. When the box is wound at its underside by a separate key,the lid opens and two feathered friends very actively turn side-to-side,their wings and tails fluttering,their beaks a-twitter as a delightful birdsong emerges. The mainspring is larger than on single-bird boxes in order to accommodate the duo,yet of an ingeniously compact design. There is a double pump and reservoir bellows,a short,cylinder-type slide whistle and eight,finely cut,shifting cams in a cluster,along with two additional cams that control the turning of each bird side-to-side. There are ten animations. Attributed to Blaise Bontems,Paris,circa 1890. This very rare double-bird box served as the color,cover piece for Mechanical Music,the Journal of the Musical Box Society,International in August 1996 and it accompanied the reprint of a 1928 piece on Singing Birds written by Alfred Chapuis and Edouard Gelis.

Sold

Sold: $12,500

Swiss Singing Bird Tabatiere by Bruguier in Original Velvet Case

Lot #9

4" (10 cm.) x 2 1/2". Encased in a fancily engraved silver gilt and enamel case with re-entrant corners and an oval lid featuring a detailed hand-painted floral bouquet on the lid. The lid opens to reveal a song bird with iridescent plumage on a pierced grill. The bird box is presented in its own leather transit case. monogrammed E.O.,with purple silk lining and a compartment at the rear for winding key. Movements and Music. Wound from the underside and put in play by means of the lever on the front,having five animations: turning body side-to-side,wings flapping,head turning independently of the body,lower beak opening and closing,tail fluttering. The birdsong cycle is made up of six melodic stages,some of them in staggered repetition and the sequence determined by a shifting cluster of cams within the mechanism. The sequence is 1,2,3,2,3,4. Jacques A. Bruguier,Geneva,from the family of singing bird makers,possibly the last of the famous names to build fine quality bird boxes,circa 1875.

Sold

Sold: $9,500

French Serinette by Labert-Humbert with Original Maker's Label and Tune Card

Lot #8

11" (28 cm.) Encased in a lovely table-top sized fruitwood box is a hand-driven barrel organ with 10 open metal pipes. Its sound,consisting of 8 short tunes whose names are listed on the ink-script paper tune label on the inside lid,is created by turning the wooden hand-crank at the box exterior. Labert-Humbert,Mirecourt (Vosges),early 19th century. The original purpose of the serinette (from the French word serin for canary) was to teach domestic canaries to sing. Interestingly,one of the tunes is Le Bois de Boulogne,a popular bird watching site in Paris. Bearing the original maker's label,this serinette is preserved in fine original condition. $1500/2500

Sold

Sold: $1,050

A Beautifully Inlaid French Walnut-Cased Serinette with Original Label from LaPrevotte

Lot #7

12" (30 cm.) x 9". The walnut-cased box with fine burled and inlay wood designs and cast iron turning handle offers 10 tunes emanating from the wooden barrel and 20 metal pipes. The simple songs are heard when the crank is turned and wooden levers at the side are activated. Miracourt,France,maker unknown,early 19th century,the serinette was offered by LaPrevotte of Marseille,according to its original paper label which indicates that the firm offered organs,serinettes and instruments. The ink-script paper tune label lists the ten tunes. The serinette,mostly produced in the Miracourt region of eastern France in the late 18th/early 19th century,was a source of simple amusement and entertainment in the home; a painting by Jean-Batiste Simeon Chardin (1699-1779) depicts a well-coiffed lady sitting at a table,winding ta serinette and patiently watching her nearby caged canary for signs of sound.

Sold

Sold: $1,000

French Musical Automaton "Berg_re Watteau" by Jean Roullet

Lot #6

24" (61 cm.) A bisque-head lady with refined portrait modeling is posed standing upon a velvet-covered stand,having brown glass paperweight eyes,closed mouth,brunette human hair,bisque shoulder plate,carton torso and shapely legs,bisque forearms and hands,wearing a superb silk costume in the 18th century style,with matching bonnet and silk ruffle-edged apron,and holding a shepherdess crook. Appearing to be held in her right hand is a woven lidded basket is which is tucked a little lamb; the basket is actually attached to her torso by hidden metal rods. Movements and Music. Her head turns as though gazing at her flock of sheep while she lifts her crook to guide them along. Meanwhile the lid of her basket lifts,as though the baby lamb is just awakening. The lamb's head peeks out,turns side-to-side,and his mouth opens and closes. The shepherdess turns and nods at the baby lamb,gestures her crook tenderly as though to say "go back to sleep". The lamb bleats and tucks back into the basket. The lid closes. There are six movements and one tune. Jean Roullet,Paris,circa 1880,with commissioned bisque portrait head from the doll factory of Emile Jumeau,marked "Depose Tete Jumeau Bte SGDG 7". The automaton,known as "Shepherdess with Lamb" appeared in an early Roullet catalog named Berg_re Watteau in homage to the French painter Jean-Antoine Watteau whose early 18th century romantic paintings had idealized the French countryside. In variations of the automaton,the lamb was substituted by a baby goat,and the crook by a bouquet of flowers. $15,000/21,000

Sold

Sold: $15,500

French Mechanical Walking Piglet by Roullet & Decamps

Lot #5.1

13" (33 cm.) l. A hide-covered paper-mache pink piglet is constructed with articulated neck and legs,brown glass eyes,and curly tail. He trots along with animation on his short little legs,quickly turning his head side-to-side and emitting "oinks" in a charming manner. French,Roullet & Decamps,circa 1910 from their series of walking or leaping farm and exotic animals.

Sold

Sold: $1,550

French Musical Automaton "Bunny in Cabbage" by Roullet et Decamps

Lot #5

8" (20 cm.) Hidden inside a paper-mache cabbage with silk leaves is a white fur-covered bunny with amber glass eyes,hinged mouth,on ears. Music and Movement. The bunny,hidden inside the cabbage with only his ears peeking out,suddenly pops from the cabbage,turning his head from side to side as looking out for danger. He suddenly opens his mouth,revealing the cabbage leaf he is chewing,and pops down inside the cabbage again,still safe. Music plays. Roullet et Decamps,circa 1910. A series of automata were made by the firm,featuring animals,children,chefs,and other amusing figures hidden inside flowers,pots and such. The mechanical arrangement remained constant,and only the vignette scene varied; the series was popular and remained in the company line for a number of years.

Sold

Sold: $2,100

French Musical Scene Animee "The Monkey Landscape Artist" with Clock by Phalibois

Lot #4

27" (69 cm.) Arranged upon an ebony wooden base under an oval glass dome is a costumed gentleman monkey,posed in a bucolic setting under a silk-leaved tree arbor,faux-mossy ground base and large paper-mache rock formation,The Monkey Artist stands in front of a wooden artist easel with canvas,and holds a palette and paint brush. He has a paper-mache head,glass eyes,grey mohair wig and beard,leather-skin jaw,carton torso,wooden hands,legs with painted stockings,and is richly dressed in silk shirt and breeches,and velvet vest. Movement and Music. In sequential and naturalistic movements,the Monkey Artist blinks his eyes,nodding and turning his head. He curls back his lip while his mouth moves,as though conversing with an unseen passer-by. Meanwhile he dabs the palette and then adds deft strokes to the canvas. Periodically,he pauses in a self-admiring way to contemplate his masterpiece,a still-life of flowers. Two tunes play. The animations are created by six,Phalibois-style cams. The two tune music is provided by the original,pull-string musical movement that can be changed at will by means of an exterior control. The original timepiece bears the maker's stamp on the rear "Japy Freres & Cie"; its original silk thread suspension was converted to spring suspension; the clock retains its original face,hands,and bell. Jean Phalibois,circa 1880,the scene animee was featured in the 1884 toy catalog of Silber and Fleming with the note "the manner in which it takes the colour from the palette and then proceeds to paint is very natural". The monkey artist was more often produced in a seated position without the clock; this standing version with clock is rare.

Sold

Sold: $10,000

Scene Animee "Monkey Violinist with Singing Birds",Attributed to Bontems

Lot #3

26" (66 cm.) Seated in a wooden glen under the over-reaching branches of a tree and alongside a hillock which frames a clock,is a paper-mache monkey with painted features,hinged jaw,and wearing 18th century style silk and velvet costume. Tucked into the tree branches are feathered birds and a hummingbird in nest. A twisted glass waterfall is present. Movement and Music. The monkey turns his head and nods while opening and closing his upper and lower lips as if singing,while his right arm strums the violin. The birds turn side-to-side and flit among the branches while chirping. The waterfall pours forth. There are 11 animations and two tunes. Attributed Blaise Bontems,Paris,circa 1885,likely in collaboration with Phalibois. The monkey head and the cluster of six brass cams that control the bird movements are of Bontems style,along with the two bellows that provide the chirping bird sounds,Independently controlled is a pull-string wound,44-note musical movement by Mermod et Cie that bears the patent date of 1882. The clock,over-wound,has an 7-day movement and is also independent of the automaton movement. The rare scene animee is one of the rare examples of interaction among different automaton makers.

Sold

Sold: $8,000

French Musical Automaton "Bebe Jeu de Grace" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #2

19" (48 cm.) Standing upon a rose-velvet-recovered wooden platform is a bisque headed girl with brown glass paperweight inset eyes,artistically painted features,closed mouth,pierced ears,blonde mohair wig,carton torso and legs,restored bisque forearms She is wearing her original somewhat-worn silk and lace dress with maroon silk ribbons,matching bonnet,shoes and socks. She is holding two maple-wood sticks (baguettes) with velvet-covered handles and,positioned on a wire frame in front of her so as to appear to be flying in the air,is a chenille-velvet-covered hoop (coronne). Movements and Music. The girl turns her head from side-to-side as though watching the movements of her hands and the hoop. She flicks her wrists side-to-side,trying to capture the hoop onto the sticks,while the hoop moves back and forth,as though she is playing the French traditional garden game jeu de grace. Music plays,En revenant de la Revue according to the original tune label. Leopold Lambert,circa 1886,the automaton appeared in the Lambert catalog as #8 Bebe Jeu de Grace,with rare model bisque head marked "Depose Jumeau 4". The automaton gracefully depicts the popular 19th century garden game,and its movements and music function well.

Sold

Sold: $6,000

The Beautiful French Musical Automaton "Bebe Ombrelle" by Leopold Lambert

Lot #1

20" (51 cm.) Standing upon a patterned-gold velvet-covered wooden base is a bisque-headed girl with blue glass paperweight eyes,beautifully painted features,closed mouth,pierced ears,long flowing blonde mohair wig,carton torso and legs,bisque forearms. The little girl is holding a butterfly net in one hand and a wooden-handled parasol in the other. She wears a frail silk and lace dress with ribbon trim and straw bonnet. Movements and Music. She turns her head side-to-side and nods,alternately delicately lifting the parasol,and then swiftly dropping the net as though to capture a butterfly that has been roused by the breeze of the parasol. One tune is played,La Grosse Caisse,according to original paper tune label on the base. The movements and music function well,depicting the Parisian's love of nature,albeit the doll appears in fantasy luxury costuming more suitable for the salon than for the garden. Leopold Lambert,circa 1890,the doll appeared in the Lambert catalog named Bebe Ombrelle,#36. The doll head was commissioned from Emile Jumeau and is marked "T_te Jumeau Bte SGDG 4".

Sold

Sold: $5,000