Rare French Automaton "Clown Magician with Cat and Mouse Game " by Vichy

Live Auction

21"(52 cm.) A paper mache headed clown with delightful facial expression and painting including classic clown decorations,has glass eyes with leather eyelids,and bright carrot red tuft of hair beneath his felt clown hat,carton torso and legs,and is wearing his original colorful silk clown costume. Posed upon a wooden bench,he is holding a top hat in his lap and in his right hand is a cotton handkerchief that covers the top. A spring-driven clockwork motion is hidden within his bench,containing four brass cams and a two-air musical movement. Condition: excellent,well-functioning and with original painting,costume and accessories. Comments: Gustav Vichy,Paris,circa 1890,the model appeared in the Vichy catalog indicated as a "modele depose". The six movements include head turning and then nodding,eyelids blinking,right arm moving to and fro,right leg lifting and crossing his left leg,and the trick of his hat: he removes the handkerchief and a mouse pops up in the hat; he covers the hat again,and then uncovers and this time a cat appears! Value Points: the amusing activity is complemented by the charming and delighted expression of the clown who seems to never tire of the game himself,in this rarely found model. Another example is at the Murtogh D. Guinness Collection at the Morris Museum.