$10,000
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Description
20" (51 cm.) Posed upon a nicely shaped black
wooden plinth is a soft-brown-complexioned man
with paper-mache head,beautifully defined features
with high cheek bones and defined strong
throat,brown glass eyes with articulated leather
eyelids,open mouth,wiry black hair,carton
torso,paper-mache hands. He is wearing a fine silk
costume,black derby hat and is holding a
four-string banjo. Movement and Music. Turning his
head from side-to-side,blinks his eyes,teasingly
sticks out his tongue just to the tip of his
lips,and peacefully strums the banjo,Suddenly,as
though to signal that the performance is ended,he
raises his strumming hand high in an elegant
sweept and sticks out his full tongue as though to
signal the finale. Two tunes play,and appear to be
synchronized to the grand finale movement. Gustave
Vichy,Paris,circa 1890. Bust automata were
presented by both Vichy and Roullet & Decamps and
were popular salon decorations. Most often they
depicted persons of exotic cultures such as
Morocco or Japan. The piece has the G.V. initial
on its key,and the complexion retains a superb
original patina.