$21,000
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Description
23" (58 cm.) Standing upon a burgundy velvet-covered wooden platform is a bisque-headed man with unique character face created for this model only, amber brown glass paperweight eyes with spiral threading, dark eyeliner, painted lashes, rose blushed eye shadow, arched feathered brows, aquiline nose, shaded nostrils, sculpted curled moustache, closed mouth with outlined lips, two rows of painted teeth, pierced ears, blonde mohair wig over cork pate, carton torso and legs, wire upper arms, metal hands, wearing a superb rose and ivory silk costume with soutache embroidery, brass buttons, matching hat. He is standing behind a rosewood street organ with gilt accents, upon which are posed a bisque dancing couple, attached by a metal rod. When wound, music plays, the organ grinder turns his head in a circular and nodding motion, turns the organ grinder wheel with his right arm in a complicated and realistic movement with the appearance of flexing his arm muscles, while the miniature dolls dance about. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Gustav Vichy, circa 1880, this actual automaton is shown in Automata, The Golden Years by Christian Bailly, page 84. Value Points: the exceptional rarity of the automaton with luxury movements, music and costuming, is enhanced yet further by the sculpting of the unique face with outstanding bisque, characterization and painting; few models are known to exist.