$21,000
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sold
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Description
19"(48 cm.) Seated at the side of a finely carved wooden harp is
a bisque-headed lady with very pale complexion enhanced by
heart-shaped face,aquiline nose,cobalt blue glass
eyes,beautifully painted features,closed mouth,bisque
breastplate,pierced ears,original soft pale blonde mohair wig in
original coiffure,carton upper torso,separated metal fingers,and
cone-shaped metal/wooden form which disguises the hidden
spring-driven clockwork motor and serves as a form for her
elegant gown. The wooden-framed harp in original red and
gilded paint has detailed carving,and the lady wears a superb
costume of ice blue silk with fine Alencon lace and four-strand
pearl choker at her elongated throat. Condition: generally
excellent,mechanism and music function well. Marks:
"Femme"(hand-inscribed on motor mount). Comments:
attributed to Theroude,Paris,circa 1865. The clockwork
mechanism has six brass animation cams as well as a two-air
musical movement with beautiful sounds. Value Points: exquisite
portrait beauty of the head,original coiffure and
accessories,beautifully functioning music and six elegant
movements as she nods and turns her head side to side,and
moves both her right and left arm up and down and in-and-out
as if actually plucking the harp strings.