$12,000
Sold
sold
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Description
28" (71 cm.) (excluding hat and umbrella). Standing upon a wooden platform is a Chinese man, with amber complexion paper mache head, brown glass eyes, leather eyelids with mohair lashes, black inserted brows and moustache, hinged jaw with row of teeth, black human hair under silk cap, carton torso and posed legs, wire upper arms, paper mache hands with painted white nails, wearing red silk robe with silk embroidered borders, holding a tea cup in his right hand, and a parasol in his left. When wound, music plays and wonderful activities commence: he blinks his eyes open and closed, turns his head side to side, twirls his umbrella, and brings the teacup to his mouth, appearing to sip. Condition: generally excellent, mechanism and music function wonderfully. Comments: Gustav Vichy, circa 1890. Value Points: rare luxury automaton with superb movements that are perfectly synchronized.