$3,500
Sold
sold
Click image to enlarge
Description
42" (107 cm.) h. overall. 32"x 21"base. 28"h. lady. A wooden base with original tapestry carpet cover displays an elegant fashionable lady standing alongside a wooden-framed display board. The lady has paper mache head, glass eyes with leather eyelids, closed mouth with row of tiny painted teeth, pierced ears, brunette mohair upswept hair, carton body with shapely torso and slender limbs, and is wearing her original black satin dress with rhinestone collar, and chapeau. Held in her extended hand is a gold coin. The frame, which is decorated with gilded mounts, has a curved front sign which solicits the donation of a gold coin to support French troops during WWI (every coin is another step toward victory), and a glass-fronted sign at the back exclaiming (translated) "No Defeat!" and enhanced by hidden blinking lights which give animation to the scene. The automaton is activated by an electric motor with pulley to the large wooden drive wheel. When switched on, a number of movements occur. The lady has 8 animations: head turning, nodding, eyelids blinking, left forearm side-to-side, right arm both lifting and then gesturing upward, upper torso bending at waist and leaning forward, chest breathing action, and entire figure rotation 90% to look at sign, and then returning. Meanwhile, the front sign is synchronized to the woman's movements, so as she turns, the sign flips to reveal the back side, and she leaps backward as though stunned. Condition: generally excellent, mechanism functions well. Marks: Henri Phalibois (calling card fragment attached to underside of dress). Comments: Phalibois, Paris, circa 1915. Value Points: exceptional number of realistic and complicated movements enhance the poignant message of the early 20th century automaton.