$20,000
Sold
sold
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Description
27"(69 cm.) Standing upon a red velvet covered flat base is a figure with ebony black-
complexioned paper mache head with handsome facial modeling,brown glass eyes,leather
eyelids,open mouth with row of small teeth,black fleecy hair,carton torso and legs,wire upper
arms,metal hands. The figure wears a superb red silk satin and gold brocade royal costume
with metallic soutache and fringe,necklace of gold coins and stars,metallic trimmed
slippers,and holds a gilded wooden lyre. Condition; generally excellent. Comments: attributed
to Vichy,who created a series of superb black automata,circa 1867,likely designed to appeal to
Eastern and African royalty traveling to the 1867 Paris International Exposition. The figure
turns his head from side to side in a circular manner,nods,blinks eyes open and closed,and
plucks the lyre. Value Points: splendid automaton functions well,has superb original
complexion,and plays two tunes.