Superb French Musical Scene Animee

Live Auction

27" (69 cm.) Arranged upon an ebony wooden oval base with glass dome is a garden-like setting with an over-reaching tree with silk leaves and flowers,on cartonnage ground with decorated architectural details. A tightrope is arranged in center front of the scene and posed upon it is a male tightrope dancer,who is accompanied by lady and gentleman musicians who stand below. The performers have bisque heads with sculpted hair and painted facial features,painted wooden hands and legs and original rich silk theatrical costumes. Movement and Music. The tightrope dancer balances tentatively on the rope as his legs move randomly up and down. He nods his head up and down. The male violinist "bows" with his right arm while turning his head side-to-side,and the female harpist moves both forearms as if to strum while also turning head head side-to-side. A musical movement,concealed in the base,provides sound accompaniment. Phalibois,circa 1875,the early model employs the finest automaton of performers costumed felicitously,and performing in a realistic and awe-inspiring manner. An indication of the luxury nature of this particular automata is the London store label on the underside,for "Peters & Son,The Strand,London,W.C." The theme of tightrope dancer was popular throughout European and British society in the 19th century,both in actual human performance and in miniaturized representations _ scenes animees _ to be presented in the salon. Silber and Fleming,the London retailer,presented several variations of Phalibois' "Mechanical Rope Dancer" in their catalog.