$7,500
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Description
25" (64 cm.) A romantic countryside scene is arranged on a grassy covered rocky hillside on wooden base under a glass dome with painted background; a windmill is perched at the peak, and a pond and stone mill with water wheel at the base of the hill. There is a painted tin boat in the "pond" in which a paper-mache man is seated, and alongside are three ducks. When wound, the tin boat moves side-to-side as though being rowed, the man waves a stick at the ducks to frighten them away, while the small duck bobs his head up and down as though drinking from the pond, and the larger duck pivots back and forth as though swimming. Meanwhile, the water wheel revolves, the windmill turns, the glass waterfall appears to stream, and music plays. Condition: generally excellent, mechanism and music function well, repair to bottom back of glass dome. Comments: French, Phalibois, circa 1880. Value Points: a charming sentimental country scene with an exceptional number of activities; there are seven movements and two tunes.