$9,500
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sold
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Description
27" (69 cm.) A bisque-head lady with very pale
complexion,oval slender face,cobalt blue glass
eyes,dark eyeliner,painted lashes and
lightly-feathered brows,aquiline nose with
accented nostrils,closed mouth with
beautifully-shaped outlined lips,unpierced
ears,pale blonde mohair wig with original ringlet
curls over cork pate,matching bisque shoulder
plate,shapely carton torso and legs in standing
pose,wire upper arms,metal hands. The lady stands
upon a tinplate three-wheeled base. When wound,the
lady turns her head side to side,and glides in an
elegant manner,while periodically lifting her
nosegay for a scent of flowers. Condition: tiny
eye rim flake and flake at low neck socket,the
shoulderplate has a hairline at the front under
the costume. Mechanism functions well. Marks: A.
Theroude Paris. Comments: Alexandre Theroude,circa
1860,the grand lady may have been exhibited at the
International Exposition of London in 1862 where
Theroude is known to have exhibited to the praise
of the jury who noted that his display showed
"incontestable superiority". Value Points: the
exceptional size of the splendid automaton as well
as its outstanding beauty and quality of
production indicate its probable original purpose
as an Exhibition model,the lady wears her original
frail blue silk gown with black lace trim,carved
bone fan with gilded highlights,black silk satin
bonnet with silk flowers to match her
nosegay,hooped petticoat,stockings,tacked-on
leather shoes,and a superb six-strand pearl
necklace with matching coronet.