$17,000
Sold
sold
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Description
20" (51 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered
platform with screen background is a clown with
paper mache head and artistically-painted facial
features,blue glass eyes,upper and lower mohair
lashes,red-tipped nose,closed mouth with broad
smile,teeth,tuft of hair at crown,paper mache body
with posed legs and uniquely-sculpted
hands,wearing his original silk costume with
decorative silver paper stars,holding a large
paper fan in front of his face,A gilt pedestal is
at his side,upon which is resting a large
lightwood die-cube. When wound,the clown nods to
his audience,then raises the fan to cover his
face. When the fan is lowered,his head has
disappeared! Almost immediately the lid raises on
the die-cube and a head (presumably the same,but a
duplicate) emerges. Then that head lowers back and
the lid closes,he lifts his fan and lowers it,and
his head has re-appeared. Two tunes play.
Condition: generally excellent,music and motion
function well. Comments: Phalibois,circa 1890.
Value Points: the delighted expression on the
artfully-sculpted and painted clown enhances the
endlessly amusing illusion of the well-preserved
automaton with original costume and accessories.