$8,000
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sold
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Description
13" (33 cm.) A bisque-headed couple are posed in each others arms, in formal dance position, each with blue glass eyes, beautifully painted facial features, blonde mohair wig, carton torso, paper mache legs and metal hands on man, bisque forearms on woman and wearing love silk ballroom costume in the 1890 style. The woman fits upon a metal cone "skirt" that contains mechanism, and is hidden by her silk skirt. When wound, the dolls twirl about, pause, reverse, repeat, and meanwhile the entire piece glides along on its three wheeled-base. Condition: generally excellent, music and mechanism function well, bisque heads perfect, some restoration to woman's left hand. Comments: Gustav Vichy, circa 1880. Value Points: superbly-preserved luxury automaton combines exquisite sculpting of portrait faces with elegant dance movements.