AS IN A LOOKING GLASS

Tuesday, July 15, 2014Lots 1-354

July 15, 2014 in San Antonio, TX


Five major collections including those of noted early collectors Jean Strong of Williamsville, New York (Bru, Jumeau, Huret, fashions, automata, and American cloth), Bonnie Tussing of Florida (classic bébés and rare German characters), and Patricia Cox of Portland, Oregon (A.T., Jumeau, Bru, German characters, and rare automata). There are original dolls and automata fresh from French estates, and carved wooden and Neapolitan dolls of the Margaret Woodbury Strong Museum (sold to benefit the museum’s collections fund). 8.5" x 11". Softbound. 168 full-color pages.

Live Auction

Showing 1 - 354 of 354

Rare French Musical Automaton

Rare French Musical Automaton

Lot #18

26" (66 cm.) Beneath a large paper-mache tree whose branches are laden with silk leaves and flowers is a Scholarly Professor Monkey,seated at his 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. When wound,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,while glancing alternately from his teacher to the blackboard,his jaw jabbering as if in an animated exchange. Two tunes play. The entire scene is arranged upon an ebonized wooden base under glass dome. Condition: generally excellent,music and mechanism function well. Marks: J. Phalibois A Paris (on governor and musical movement) Maitre d'ecole,No 3 (ink script on inside base) La Dame Blanche and Les Cloches du Monastere (songs listed on original paper tune label)Comments: Jean Phalibois of Paris,circa 1880,with 7 cams to animate the Professor,and 3 cams for the Student. Value Points: superbly preserved in presentation,movements and music,the very rare and charmingly- themed automaton has elaborate costuming,a total of ten movements,and clever whimsical touches such as the drawing of monkey on the blackboard.

 
French Musical Automaton

French Musical Automaton

Lot #19

27" (69 cm.) Arranged upon an ebony wooden base under an oval glass dome is a costumed monkey,posed as a gentleman artist,standing in front of a wooden artist easel which holds an oil painted canvas of flowers,in a country setting with a silk- leaved tree arbor and a large paper-mache rock formation which serves as a frame for an enamel-face clock. The Monkey Artist 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,holding a palette and paint brush. When wound,the Monkey Artist blinks his eyes,nodding and turning his head,curling 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 as though to contemplate his masterpiece. Two tunes play. Marks: Japy Freres & Cie (clock). Condition: generally excellent,music and movements function well. Comments: Jean Phalibois of Paris circa 1880 with six-cam animations and two tune music with original,pull-string musical movement. This automaton 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". Value Points: very rare and beautifully-preserved and functioning automaton with wonderful highly-animated flowing movements,and charming scene.

 
French Musical Automaton

French Musical Automaton

Lot #44

23" (58 cm.) h. overall. 15" x 15" base. Posed seated,with crossed legs,is a black paper-mache man with brown glass eyes,painted features,hinged lower lip,row of teeth,original black wiry beard,carton torso and legs,metal upper arms,paper-mache lower arms and hands with posed fingers for holding the hose tip in right hand,and coffee cup in left hand. The man is wearing his factory original elaborately wrapped padded silk turban with "diamond" crest,silk shirt and short full trousers,burgundy velvet jacket with gilt metallic trim,matching slippers,and elaborate wide silk sash. At his side is a classic "nargile" of wood and gilt metal with braided flexible hose and carved bone mouthpiece. When wound,a number of synchonized and realistic actions occur: turning his head toward the nargile he nods and draws the pipe to his mouth,appears to inhale,eyes open and close,and his jaw hinges open. Tilting his head back in satisfaction,he turns to the left and brings the cup of Turkish coffee to his lips as though sipping,while nodding in elaborate manner. Meanwhile,two tunes play. Condition: generally excellent,slight wear to velvet base cover and silk trousers,mechanism and music function well. Marks: L.B. (key). (Original paper tune label indicates 2 tunes "Valse Bleu" and "Mignon Gavette".) Comments: Leopold Lambert,circa 1886,the automaton appeared in a catalog of that firm identified as No.28 "Turc Fumeur". The nargile tradition originated in India and made its way to the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century where it became an entrenched status symbol; smoking with the sultan was considered the highest honor. This automaton is an example of the 19th century French fascination with the exotic features of Eastern culture. Value Points: extremely rare to find,this may be the finest extant example,being completely original and well- preserved,even having its original wooden packing box with French labeling,and with wonderful and realistic movements and music.

 
Important French Bisque Wooden-Bodied Poupee,Extensive Trousseau,Labeled Trunk

Important French Bisque Wooden-Bodied Poupee,Extensive Trousseau,Labeled Trunk

Lot #56

18" (46 cm.) Bisque swivel head on kid-edged bisque shoulder plate with Dehors neck articulation allowing the head to tilt side-to- side and forward as well as swivel,cornflower-blue glass enamel inset eyes,dark eyeliner,painted lashes,feathered brows,accented nostrils,closed mouth with outlined lips,unpierced ears,blonde mohair wig over cork pate,stretched-kid over wooden poupee body with shapely torso,curvy derriere,dowel-jointing at shoulders,hips and knees,bisque arms to above the elbows,superbly sculpted hands,bisque lower legs with defined toes. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: French,circa 1867. Value Points: being presented from an original chateau estate in La Bourboule in the Auvergne region of central France,the poupee is intact with her extensive original couturier trousseau that remains crisp and vibrant as at the time of its making. The details of the fourteen extraordinary gowns are shown on the following three pages. There are also ten beautiful bonnets,various blouses,jackets and coat,and extensive undergarments including hoops,and long train petticoats,two pairs of shoes,wash bowl and pitcher,some little accessories,and her original trunk which bears the shipping label from to Nantes La Bourboule on its side. Finally she holds a miniature "Album de la Poupee" with 12 early sepia miniature tipped-in photographs of a poupee gazing into a toilette mirror,several toys including Polichinelle,and elegant poupees in fashionable costumes; a similar album with variation of photographs was issued by Au Paradis des Enfants Parisian doll shop in 1867. The album is extremely important as these are the earliest known commercial photographs of dolls. In all,an extraordinary find,the beauty of the doll fittingly complementing the splendid trousseau,and the state of preservation truly remarkable.

 
Stunningly Beautiful French Bisque Bebe E.J.A. by Emile Jumeau
Porcelain Lady for the French Market,with Elaborate Early Trousseau and Trunk

Porcelain Lady for the French Market,with Elaborate Early Trousseau and Trunk

Lot #95

17" (43 cm.) Solid domed porcelain shoulder head of adult lady with oval face and elongated throat,black painted pate,lightly- pink-tinted complexion,painted blue upper-glancing eyes,thick black and red upper eyeliner,single-stroke brows,accented nostrils and eye corners,closed mouth with full lips,hand-tied brunette human hair wig in original elaborate coiffure with braided chignon and decorative comb,French pink kid poupee body with shapely torso and legs,stitched and separated fingers. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: made for the French market with original French body,wig,costumes and trunk,circa 1850,the doll may be considered a precursor to the classic French bisque poupee. Value Points: pristine condition of the doll,preserved in her original layered trunk with original paper label "Del'Hopital,8 rue Bourbon,Bellecoeur,Lyon,Fabrique General d'Articles de Voyage",and contains exceptional original hand-stitched couturiere costumes,bonnets,and accessories: brown patterned taffeta gown with black silk edging,green taffeta gown with black lace detailing,rose taffeta gown with lace trim and embroidered apron,blue brocade gown with lace trim and aqua silk ribbons,mauve cotton day dress,blue patterned silk dress with unusual trims,three additional skirts,cape with beaded trim,black plush cape,black velvet cape with lace trim,fine black lace shawl,two piece woven gown (being worn),rose silk robe,six various undergarments,various chemisettes,jackets,aprons,fur wrap,two purses,parasol,various small accessories including jewelry,leather hand-stitched ankle boots,and eight very fine bonnets in superb condition.