Passed
Description
69" (175 cm.) including pedestal. 39" man. Posed upon a wooden cabinet is a highly characterized man holding a drumstick in each hand and a drum suspended from his shoulders. The man has a loosely jointed carved wooden head and hands,featuring movable blue glass eyes,carved tousled hair,exaggerated nose,very defined age and gaunt features,two warts,closed mouth,and highlighted by an oil-painted ruddy and soot-smudged complexion. His torso,arms and legs are of heavy paper-mache over a cast metal armature for strength,and his hands and feet are carved wood. The man wears an early costume,comprising velvet jacket,silk vest with trapunto stitching and velvet pants. His shoes and stockings are sculpted and painted. Movement. He nods and turns his head,while his eyes move back and forth. He beats the drum,each arm moving independently from the other,although in synchronism. The movement is prolonged. European,probably late 18th/early 19th century,the highly stylistic carving is in the manner of Neopolitan figures of the late 18th century. The large size of the piece suggests its purpose as an exhibition model,as does the repetitive drumming action that would certainly serve to attract the passer-by. Ex-collection,the noted Himalayan mountain climber,Paul Gendre.