Passed
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Description
21" (53 cm.) h. x 24"w. x 11"d. Standing upon an oval ebony wooden base in an elaborate arrangement are three bisque-head figures,each with fine portrait-like face,blue glass eyes,painted features,closed mouth,mohair wig,carton torso,paper-mache hands,and painted wooden shoes. Standing center is the Magician,posed behind a magician's table on which are resting two cones,and at each side,seated,are accompanying musicians,one with violin and one with cello. Each figure is richly costumed in lavish silks and velvets,and the table and floor are finely finished. Movements and Music. The Magician sweeps her hand as though to call attention to the performance,then nodding her head and alternately turning side-to-side in accompaniment to the perfectly synchronized act,she lifts the cones,sometimes singly,sometimes in unison,to reveal the secret hidden beneath that has magically changed each time. Throughout,the musicians play instruments,and nod and turn their heads. The movements are activated by an all-original clockwork motor driving 3 wooden cams clusters having a total of 11 cams,controlling 10 figure animations as well as the table magic trick which has 5 complete changes of both objects. An independent pull-string-wound musical unit plays 2 different melodies,changeable and operable at will.Attributed to Phalibois,Paris,circa 1880. The luxury quality of movements and music,is complemented by the exquisite bisque heads,fine quality of costuming and accessories including the original matching table and floor coverings. A nearly identical example appears in the Murtogh Guinness Collection at the Morris Museum. Ex-collection Carole Jean Zvonar.