Outstanding and Unique 19th Century French Musical Automaton "The Magnificent Peacock"

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54" (137 cm.) h. with tail up. Perched proudly upon a red velvet-covered walnut base above a fluted walnut pedestal is a life-sized Peacock with rich feathers in brilliant,iridescent,turquoise colors. The peacock measures 54" in depth with tail feathers down,and the width of the tail,fanned-out is 85". The peacock on pedestal with tail feathers up is 96" in height. Movement and Music. The Peacock begins its grand performance in the tail-down position,regally he turns his head and body separately from side-to-side. then he proudly raises his elegant tail plumage and fans his tail out for the fullest effect. The bird then turns side-to-side again,such that all can appreciate his beauty. At the conclusion,he lowers his tail back down in a graceful and realistic manner. All the while,music plays. The mechanism employs a spring-wound Vichy-style motor with four,large-diameter brass cams,some original and some replaced. The smoothness of the performance is partly due to roller bearing cam-riders. There is a two-tune 36-note Reuge musical movement,and while technically there are four animations,the entire performance is so seamless as to appear infinite. Maker unknown,likely French,mid-to-late 19th century,No other examples of this extremely rare model are known in this grand life-size. It was likely a special commission work,or created for presentation at Paris International Exhibition of 1878 or 1889. Although the Peacock had symbolic importance in the arts for more than 3000 years,it was during the later 19th century,especially in the Art Nouveau movement,that it came to full bloom. The homage to the Peacock in 19th century art can scarcely be over-stated. There was the scandalous Peacock Room decorated by James Whistler in 1876,the William Morris Peacock Tapestry of 1887,and the superb Indian Mayuri Peacock bowed lute,to name a few. Even within the world of magic,there was the grand-sized Peacock used by magicians such as Robert-Houdin,Maskelyne or the like,that relied on human aides off-stage to actuate the piece via hidden string linkages. This example,The Magnificent Peacock,with its original internal mechanism,functions beautifully,is perfectly preserved and a truly remarkable and unique automaton.