$29,000
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Description
26" (66 cm.) Beneath a large paper-mache tree whose branches are
laden with silk leaves and flowers is a Scholarly Professor
Monkey,seated at his lectern-style desk,facing a Monkey Student
who is too small to reach the blackboard without standing on a
stool. The blackboard displays arithmetic lessons and a chalk
drawing of a capped and bearded monkey. The blackboard and faux-
grain paper-covered furniture are of wood. The painted monkey
heads are of paper-mache with articulated kidskin jaws,glass eyes
and mohair wigs. They are dressed regally in silk caps,jackets and
breeches with gilt trim and buttons,and painted shoes. The
professor is holding his lesson books and teaching stick,and the
Student is holding chalk. When wound,the Professor waves his stick
and moves his head and jaw as if reading from his lesson book. The
Student responds by moving his right hand to write his sums on the
blackboard,while glancing alternately from his teacher to the
blackboard,his jaw jabbering as if in an animated exchange. Two
tunes play. The entire scene is arranged upon an ebonized wooden
base under glass dome. Condition: generally excellent,music and
mechanism function well. Marks: J. Phalibois A Paris (on governor
and musical movement) Maitre d'ecole,No 3 (ink script on inside
base) La Dame Blanche and Les Cloches du Monastere (songs listed
on original paper tune label)Comments: Jean Phalibois of
Paris,circa 1880,with 7 cams to animate the Professor,and 3 cams
for the Student. Value Points: superbly preserved in
presentation,movements and music,the very rare and charmingly-
themed automaton has elaborate costuming,a total of ten
movements,and clever whimsical touches such as the drawing of
monkey on the blackboard.