$42,000
Sold
sold
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Description
27" (69 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered pedestal base which contains whistling mechanism is a bisque-head character with highly-stylized features, blue glass paperweight inset eyes, dark eyeliner, painted lashes, brushstroked and feathered brows, shaded nostrils, closed mouth with "O" shaped whistling hole between the shaded lips, separately-modeled pierced ears, blonde mohair wig over cork pate, carton torso and legs, wire upper arms, composition forearms, antique aqua silk costume with lace collar and cuffs, stockings, black leather shoes. Condition: generally excellent, mechanism and whistling feature function well. Marks: Depose 205 (and artist checkmarks). Comments: attributed to Phalibois, circa 1893, with especially commissioned character head from Jumeau; when wound, the jaunty lad tilts his head side to side while he whistles the tune "Daisy, Daisy, Bicycle Built for Two"; that song, written in 1892, was perfectly suited for this automaton. Value Points: extremely rare automaton is enhanced by the uniquely commissioned art character head, having finest detail of impressed cheek dimples and puckered lips.