$6,000
Sold
sold
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Description
24" (63 cm.) An old woman with
highly-characterized head of papier-mache,is
seated on a wooden chair,having glass eyes,sharp
nose,open mouth with missing teeth,red age lines
on face,grey mohair wig under Charlotte cap,carton
torso with mechanism,papier-mache hands and lower
legs. She is dressed in a burgundy gown with green
cotton apron,black fringed shawl with embroidered
flowers,beads,woolen stockings,black shoes,and
holds a knitting bag on her lap and knitting work
and needles in her curled fingers. When wound,she
nods her head back and forth as though intently
watching her handiwork,and her hands move to and
fro in a realistic knitting manner,while music
plays. Condition: generally excellent,mechanism
and movement function well. Comments: Roullet et
Decamps,the automaton appeared in their catalog as
#265,"Vielle Tricoleuse" (old lady knitting),circa
1890. Value Points: well-preserved and charming
automaton with realistic movements.