$8,500
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sold
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Description
25" (64 cm.) and 26". The matched pair of automata are arranged as Spanish guitar player and tambourine dancer, each with bisque head, dark blue glass paperweight inset eyes, dramatically-painted thick eye shadow and brows, slightly-parted lips, four porcelain teeth, brunette human hair, carton torso and legs, wire upper arms, bisque forearms, in silver and velvet performer costumes, and each posed upon matching velvet-covered bases. When wound, he turns his head side to side and nods, while strumming the wooden guitar with hand-painted floral decorations which he holds. She turns her head, shakes the tambourine and provocatively undulates at her hinged waist. Music plays. Condition: generally excellent, mechanism and music function for both, she has little finger broken (hidden by tambourine). Comments: Roullet et Decamps, circa 1890. Value Points: rare larger size of the popularly-themed automata, especially rare to find as a matched pair with wonderful distinctive facial decoration and superb costumes.