Passed
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Description
34" (86 cm.) A wooden ladder-back chair is resting upon a wooden platform,and posed on the back top rung of the chair is the Peasant,holding a paper-mache pig in his lap,seated as though the pig is a little child. The Peasant has a composition head with exceptional characterization and modeling detail,brown glass eyes,articulated eyelids,articulated bottom lip,painted teeth,original painted finish with ruddy complexion,and brunette mohair wig. He has a carton torso and legs,hinged right hip,and expressively posed fingers,a biscuit held between two fingers. The Peasant wears a rose sateen smock and plaid cotton collar,black and white woolen checkered pants,flannel top hat,and leather shoes (preserved beneath the smock is his original white shirt and aqua silk waist coat). The pig has glass eyes,double-curled tail,artistically painted pigskin,and a movable tongue between open lips. Movements and Music. The Peasant seems to take great delight in teasing his pet piglet. Turning and nodding his head,and blinking his eyelids,he moves his right hand,holding a biscuit,toward the hungry piglet. Just as the piglet leans forward,turning his head and moving his tongue in and out in anticipation of the treat,the Peasant pulls the biscuit away,heaving his shoulders up and down as if laughing,and stomping his foot on the chairseat in delight. The Peasant's lips move all the while,as if he is chattering and teasing the piglet. There are nine animations and two accompanying tunes. The large Vichy clockwork motor powers a mechanism that features five brass cams actuating some six animations of the Peasant and three movements of his pet,as well as the musical unit. Gustave Vichy,Paris,circa 1895. One of his most celebrated models,yet very few are known to exist,this being one of the earliest examples and in fine original state of preservation.