$4,000
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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.