$8,000
Sold
sold
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Description
20" (51 cm.) Seated upon a wooden stool upon a velvet-covered wooden platform is a paper-mache-headed clown having blue glass eyes, painted white clown complexion with painted decorations, red-tipped nose, open mouth with movable tongue, bi-color fleecy mohair wig, carton torso, hinged carton legs, bisque forearms, wearing original silk costume and cap, and holding a wooden mandolin. When wound, his head turns and nods realistically, he lifts the mandolin with his left hand and strums with his right; periodically he taps his right foot to the music, and then his left foot, then bends forward at the waist, and saucily sticks out his tongue; all the while two tunes play. Condition: generally excellent, two fingers professionally restored on left hand; motions and music function well. Marks: L.B. Comments: Leopold Lambert, circa 1890, this being a deluxe commissioned variation of a similar automaton with less movements "Clown as La Guitare" featured in Lambert's catalog. Value Points: the delightfully amusing seven movement clown is all original, his musical skills enlivened by sticking out tongue in a smart-alecky way and enhanced by fine quality of music.