Passed
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Description
34" (86 cm.) h. x 23"w. x 16"d. Standing upon a wooden platform with architecturally-detailed base to simulate a cobbled street is an adult man with paper-mache head with oil-painted complexion and features,hinged jaw,very characterized expression,carton torso and legs,composition hands,and wearing shirt and patched trousers,long flannel coat with red lining,worn top hat and shoes,and holding a guitar. At the side is a wooden dog house containing a flannel-covered paper-mache dog. Seated on the roof of the dog house is a paper-mache boy with original street urchin costume,holding a bottle. Movements and Music. The street musician nods and turns his head,opening and closing his mouth as though singing along with his guitar music. His right hand strums the guitar and lifts higher on occasion,while his left hand holds the guitar,lifting and sliding along the length of the neck. And then,most surprisingly,a runny nose will appear and disappear. Meanwhile the boy's head lifts up to look at the musician as his shoulders shrug and his right arm raises up so he can take a swig from his soda bottle. The dog's head bobs up and down as if enjoying the music,too. There are 10 animations and 2 tunes. Driven by a large-sized Phalibois clockwork motor,the unit contains ten Phalibois carved wooden cams,accompanied by a 2-tune musical movement. Henry Phalibois,Paris,circa 1910. The unique and very rare automaton depicting a Paris street scene incorporates humor,childhood,music and street entertainment and dogs,all designed to attract the attention of passers-by. It was likely used as a window display,possibly in the window of a pharmacy judging from the musician's cold symptons. It is an excellent example of Henri Phalibois' later,more raffish-looking caricatures.