French Mechanical Goat Cart by Theroude with Carved Wooden Man and Woman

Live Auction

16" (41 cm.) l. A woven cart with four metal-spoked wheels has double facing seating and is upholstered with tufted and pleated coral silk; the cart is being pulled by a paper mache goat with thick brown/cream fur cover, horns, ears, and hinged legs; and hidden beneath the carriage is a simple mechanism which, when wound, causes the goat to "walk" forward, thus pulling the carriage forward. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: French, Theroude, circa 1860. Value Points: rare early toy with fine luxury details, and including two carved wooden dolls depicting man and woman, having thick gesso-sculpted facial features and hair, painted features, wooden articulated arms and legs with dowel-jointing at shoulders, elbows, hips and knees, and each wearing original costume.