$7,000
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sold
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Description
27" (69 cm.) A lush-fur-covered paper-mache bear
standing on back legs is posed upon a
velvet-covered wooden platform,having black bead
eyes,and carved wooden paws,nose and mouth. He
holds a wooden drumstick in each paw,and a large
drum is suspended from the leather strap slung
across his chest. Movement. Turning his head from
side-to-side as though in unison with the drum
beat,he also nods his head,opens and closes his
jaw,and beats the drum in unison. Decamps,circa
1900. The bear appeared in the Decamps catalog as
model #315. The performing trained bear was a
popular concept in early 20th century,both in real
life carnivals and in these playful automata. The
price of this model was 100 francs,deeming it a
fairly luxury piece,as does the quality
workmanship of the accessory fine leather drum
strap and drum. Few examples in this grand size
can be found today.