#191

Very Rare Automaton Depicting Charlie Chaplin as
Live Auction

$4,000
sold
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Description
28"(71 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered large wooden base which contains mechanism with wooden wheels,electrical-operated,is a paper mache figure of Charlie Chaplin in his classic "The Little Tramp"persona. With glass eyes,metal eye brows,moustache,closed mouth with painted teeth,black mohair fleecy hair,carton torso,right hand holding a cane with flexible neck,left cloth hand form held in pocket,paper mache over-sized shoes,and wearing classic Little Tramp costume. When turned on,The Little Tramp stands quietly at first,and then begins his act: rolling eyes right and left,lifting eyebrows,twirling his cane,tapping his foot,and then suddenly leaning far forward. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: circa 1920s,the automaton movements are similar to those of the popular British performer,Little Tich,of the late 19th century,whose act was immortalized in an automaton by Roullet et Decamps. This example may be the product of Phalibois who released a series of electrical-operated automata during the 1920s. Value Points: rare automata with amusing actions,well-preserved.