$37,500
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Description
23" (58 cm.) h. overall. 15" x 15" base. Posed seated,with crossed
legs,is a black paper-mache man with brown glass eyes,painted
features,hinged lower lip,row of teeth,original black wiry
beard,carton torso and legs,metal upper arms,paper-mache lower
arms and hands with posed fingers for holding the hose tip in
right hand,and coffee cup in left hand. The man is wearing his
factory original elaborately wrapped padded silk turban with
"diamond" crest,silk shirt and short full trousers,burgundy velvet
jacket with gilt metallic trim,matching slippers,and elaborate
wide silk sash. At his side is a classic "nargile" of wood and
gilt metal with braided flexible hose and carved bone mouthpiece.
When wound,a number of synchonized and realistic actions occur:
turning his head toward the nargile he nods and draws the pipe to
his mouth,appears to inhale,eyes open and close,and his jaw hinges
open. Tilting his head back in satisfaction,he turns to the left
and brings the cup of Turkish coffee to his lips as though
sipping,while nodding in elaborate manner. Meanwhile,two tunes
play. Condition: generally excellent,slight wear to velvet base
cover and silk trousers,mechanism and music function well. Marks:
L.B. (key). (Original paper tune label indicates 2 tunes "Valse
Bleu" and "Mignon Gavette".) Comments: Leopold Lambert,circa
1886,the automaton appeared in a catalog of that firm identified
as No.28 "Turc Fumeur". The nargile tradition originated in India
and made its way to the Ottoman Empire in the 16th century where
it became an entrenched status symbol; smoking with the sultan was
considered the highest honor. This automaton is an example of the
19th century French fascination with the exotic features of
Eastern culture. Value Points: extremely rare to find,this may be
the finest extant example,being completely original and well-
preserved,even having its original wooden packing box with French
labeling,and with wonderful and realistic movements and music.