Passed
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Description
24" (61 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden platform in a very stylized foppish manner is a bisque-head man with movable blue glass eyes,open mouth,row of teeth,painted features,brunette mohair wig,very slender elongated torso and legs,and bisque forearms. He is holding a ribbon-wrapped cane in his right hand,and an elaborate gilded ormolu lorgnette in his left hand. He is wearing a very elaborate fashionable costume comprising black satin tailcoat with ivory lining,floral printed silk waistcoat,silk fitted pants with peculiar (worn) lace cover,black leggings,silk slippers,and black top hat.Movements and Music. He stands proudly,as though displaying his fashionable attire for all to see,then turns his head side-to-side,nods and,in an unusual movement,opens and closes his eyes. He alternately lifts his cane,and then his lorgnette to his blinking eyes,perhaps astonished that another passer-by is attired in a finer costume. Two tunes play,according to the original paper tune label listing Dollar Princess and Ct. de Luxembourg Valse No.1. Leopold Lambert,circa 1895,with bisque head marked "1159 Germany Simon & Halbig (6),and representing L'Incroyable,a fashionable movement of the late 18th century in which rebellious young men appeared in highly exaggerated and outrageous costume,such as the lace pants on this example. Known as Les Incroyables (the incredible ones),the name came to signify the entire rebellious movement of the time.