Passed
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Description
23" (58 cm.) Paper mache head of highly-characterized man with brown glass eyes, sculpted brows and dominant nose, hinged jaw with jagged teeth, fleeced hair under knit stocking cap, rounded paper mache torso with barrel-shaped lower torso, short plump legs, wire upper arms, metal hands, posed standing on the top of another barrel. The man has an internal mechanism which, when wound, causes him to turn his head and open and close his mouth as he lifts a pewter goblet to his mouth, all-the-while rubbing his stomach in anticipation of the libation. Meanwhile music plays. Condition: original facial finish albeit rubbed, costume very attic-sooted, craquelure on barrel, music and mechanism function well. Comments: Gustav Vichy, circa 1890, another example has been found with the Vichy insignia on the barrel. Value Points: very rare and amusing automaton with original (albeit quite worn) costuming.