$5,000
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Description
12" (30 cm.) A lady and gentleman with paper mache
head,blue inset eyes,painted features,closed
mouth,the lady with hint of smile and light brown
mohair wig in elaborately braided style,and the
gentleman with dark brown hair and sculpted
moustache and goatee,are posed as though about to
begin a waltz,each with one hand on its hip and
the right arm clasping the other person. A hidden
metal cone beneath the woman's skirt contains the
mechanism which when wound,causes the couple to
glide in graceful circles and then forward.
Condition: very good,woman has three broken
fingers. Marks: A. Theroude Paris. Comments:
Theroude,Paris,circa 1850,the exact piece with
variations in costume is shown full page in
Bailly's Automata,The Golden Age. Value Points:
artistically-presented and very rare,the waltzing
couple are posed realistically,as is their dance
performance; their very frail costumes are
original with detailed ornamentation.