Early 19th Century Curious Wooden Mechanical Toy with Hand-Painted Scenes

Live Auction

24" (61 cm.) l. An all wooden vignette with architectural tower and pavilion or pond area in original umber red with gold trim frames two hand-painted rural scenes; one scene disguises a pulley on which rests a wooden gondola holding a carved wooden boy and his open basket. The boy has a sculpted cap and hair, painted blue jacket with gold trim, and he moves forward and backward from tower to open pavilion when string-pulled. Condition: excellent structurally and with superb original painted finish; other components may have been originally included although that is uncertain. Comments: early 19th century, maker unknown. Value Points: outstanding quality of painting and construction of the perfectly preserved simple toy.