Mid-19th Century French Mechanical Toy

Live Auction

16" (41 cm.) Posed seated upon a heavy card paper barrel with wooden slats is a paper-mache monkey-person with brown glass eyes,paitned features,hinged jaw,swivel head,carton body,movable arms,holding a violin. He is wearing an elaborate original silk Marquis costume with soutache gilt trim and lace. Standing in front is his paper-mache dog. When wound,music plays and the monkey-person nods his head to and fro,strums the violin,opens and closes his mouth,while his dog eagerly moves to and fro,also opening and closing his mouth. Condition: generally excellent. Comments: French,circa 1860,the luxury goods Paris store of Alphonse Giroux sold amusing parlor objects such as this. Value Points: rare early mechanical toy with fine original finish well-preserved.