19th Century Carved Wooden Man with Amusing Mechanical Action

Live Auction

8" (20 cm.) All carved wood figure depicting a gentleman with carved detail of hair and costume including long flowing hair, tri-corn hat, fitted jacket, short pants, painted shoes, holding a large tray of food. He has glass eyes under wire spectacles, a hinged right arm at the shoulder and a hinged jaw, and when the pull-string at his back is pulled, he quickly raises his arm to his mouth, and opens his mouth wide to gobble a mouthful of food, while his eyes rapidly blink open and closed. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: Germany, mid-1800s. Value Points: excellent detail of carving and painting, wonderful amusing action.