$8,000
Sold
sold
Click image to enlarge
Description
31" (79 cm.) Standing upon a fabric-covered wooden base is a black-complexioned paper mache man with highly characterized features, brown glass eyes with leather eyelids, broad nose, very full lips with hidden hinge at lower lip, double row of teeth, black fleecy hair, slender carton torso and legs, wire upper arms, and paper mache hands posed to hold the banjo. When wound, he moves his head in a complicated manner, his lower lip opens and closes, eyelids open and close, and he strums the banjo, while musical tunes play. Condition: some rubbing on complexion of face and hands, mechanism functions well. Comments: Vichy, circa 1890, the automaton, deposed by Gustav Vichy, appeared as model 410 in the Vichy catalog. Value Points: the luxury automaton has wonderful details of mouth and eyelids, and is wearing fine original costume.