$8,500
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sold
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Description
38" (97 cm.) Standing upon a wooden base with a fringed burgundy velvet floor is a paper
mache clown with painted clown features,glass eyes,and smiling expression,costumed by
multi-colored silk and velvet costume. He stands behind a green-velvet-draped pedestal
table holding a red conjuring cup and a white magic wand. When wound,he nods his
head,moves his lips as though speaking to an audience,then waves his wand and raises and
lowers the red conjuring cup to reveal,in sequence,six different objects:
mouse,jewelry,flowers,goldfish,dice and bird in a cage. The complicated movements are
achieved by eight hidden cams,and there is a six-tune antique musical movement. Condition:
generally excellent. movements and music function well. Comments: created by Michel
Bertrand of Switzerland,1993,under special commission,inspired by an earlier piece in the
Vichy inventory. Bertrand was the final successor to the Vichy firm and incorporated many of
the original Vichy parts into his works,such as this example. Value Points: striking automaton
in the grand tradition,perfectly preserved,and with intricate movements and music. Ex-
Steinbaum collection.