$29,000
Sold
sold
Click image to enlarge
Description
36" (91 cm.) A slender-featured refined lady with paper mache head accentuated by well-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 she carries a very large wooden handled paper parasol, a paper mache mask in her hand, and a lacquered tray on which are displayed other paper mache masks that she presents for sale. The movements are intricate: the lady pivots her head, raising and lowering her eyelids, while gracefully twirling the parasol between her fingers and occasionally lifting a mask as though to offer it to passers-by. There are two tunes that accompany the music. Condition: generally excellent, tray and masks are excellent albeit not original, music and motions function perfectly. Comments: Gustave Vichy, Paris, circa 1889, the model was 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; a silver plaque on the original base indicates the automaton was originally presented by the prestige music box firm of George Baker. Value Points: remarkable state of preservation, with superb original costume, and compelling and intricate movements.