$21,000
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sold
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Description
21" (53 cm.) Standing behind a velvet-covered table that rests
upon a wooden platform with red velvet cover edged in tasseled
ball fringe is a bisque-headed magician with rare early portrait
heart-shaped face,blue glass paperweight inset eyes,dark
eyeliner,painted lashes,brush-stroked brows,accented nostrils and
eye corners,closed mouth,pierced ears,brunette mohair wig,carton
torso and legs,wire upper arms,paper-mache lower arms and hands
with a silver metal cone held in each hand. When wound,the
magician lifts his head,and then alternately lifts one cone or the
other or both,while a variety of surprises are presented: dice,red
ball,blue ball,tiny ball on a circle base,mushroom,or nothing.
Meanwhile,music plays. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: 5
(doll). Comments: Leopold Lambert,the automaton was presented in
the Lambert catalog as "Escamateur No. 33bis" or in black-
complexioned version as "Negre Escamateur No. 33" and was
described as having "rich costume satin". Value Points: elaborate
and luxurious automaton functions well,wears original rich silk
costume with gilt metallic trim and buttons,superb portrait bisque
head.