$9,000
Sold
sold
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Description
21" (53 cm.) including ears. 11"w. bench. Seated
upon a wooden bench is a papier-mache boy with
highly-characterized scowling expression,glass
eyes,closed mouth modeled as though open with
painted teeth,dark brown mohair wig,carton torso
and legs in seated position with jointed left
knee,bisque hands,wearing striped velvet
pants,silk shirt,silk vest,handkerchief,knit
shirt,knit striped stockings,and black laced
shoes,and a dunce cap on his head. He is holding a
book,and a basket labeled "John" is at his side.
When wound,two tunes play and the movements begin:
he turns his head from side-to-side as though
reading his book,then gazes upward,lifting his arm
as though to wipe away tears and finally covering
his face in shame,while his dunce cap ears flap up
and down and he taps the bench with his foot.
Condition: generally excellent,music and motion
function well. Comments: Vichy,circa 1900. Value
Points: the amusing automaton,which appeared in
the Vichy catalog as #467 "modele depose" played
upon the popular French legend of "Jean qui
pleure",a mischievous boy who was constantly in
trouble.