$90,000
Sold
sold
Description
31" (79 cm.) Bisque head depicting a lady with very distinct and expressive portrait face, has a separate bisque shoulderplate with generously sculpted bosom, blue glass paperweight eyes, brushstroked brows, painted lashes, accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth with artfully painted lips, separately modeled pierced ears, blonde mohair wig over cork pate, carton torso and legs, bisque forearms and is posed standing on a maroon velvet-covered flat wooden base behind a gilt pedestal table with elaborate velvet table cover decorated with fringe and embroidery. The lady is wearing a very elaborate magician's costume of mauve silk with red silk jacket, each trimmed with soutache, and a red silk headdress with flowers and soutache embroidery disguising two paper mache gilded horns. Arranged on the table are two over-turned silver flower pots and a gold die, each hiding a "surprise". When wound, music plays, and the lady turns her head from side to side as though compelling attention, then glances up and down in preparation for her performance while her right hand that holds the magic wand moves side to side, then up and down; she taps three times with the magic wand and one of the three covers lifts to reveal the surprise hidden beneath: a glass-eyed monkey with mouth that opens and closes or a blue-eyed clown that saucily sticks out its tongue or a pretty bisque-head girl with clasped bisque hands that blows kisses. Condition: generally excellent, music and motions function well. Marks: Depose Tete Jumeau Bte SGDG 11 (head). Comments: Paris, Jean Roullet, circa 1886. with luxury bisque head commissioned from Jumeau. The automaton appeared in an early catalog of Roullet, named "Magicienne, No. 201"; priced at 180 francs, it was one of the five most luxurious and expensive pieces offered undoubtedly made to custom order only. Value Points: an extraordinary automaton, with eleven intricate movements and two tunes, is enhanced by a superb portrait bisque face, luxurious costume and accouterments, and even finest artistry in the little hidden surprises. Only a very few examples are known to exist.