29". A paper-mache head gentleman is standing upon a velvet covered wooden platform, behind a wooden table. The handsome man has brown glass eyes, leather eyelids with mohair lashes, hinged jaw, two rows of teeth, moustache, brunette mohair wig, carton torso and legs, and paper mache hands with expressively posed fingers. He wears a silk shirt, beautifully embroidered silk vest, silk jacket, black silk pants, shoes, and black velvet conjuror hat with emblems. The table is covered in green wool felt with metallic fringe, and has embroidered conjuror symbols as shown in the original Vichy catalog. Two silver cups, decorated with faux-jewels, are on the table, hiding a compartment with revolving action that allows different "surprises" to appear in sequence. The original tune label on the front of the base has stamped insignia J.C. with illustration, and lists two tunes: Le Voyage de Suzette Valse, and Genevieve Bell Duo.
Movements: The Magician turns right to left as though calling attention, his eyes blink several times, he nods his head forward and pauses. He lifts the silver cups sometimes singly, and sometimes together. Various surprises are hidden beneath the cups: bisque doll, two decorated balls, coins, elephant, silver cup, die, and nothing. The surprises are revealed in different patterns as the performance ensues. The man has hinged jaw with sculpted teeth, but talking mechanism needs adjustment. Music plays.
Historical References: Named Escamoteur, the automaton appeared in an early Lambert catalog, and was available black (#33) or white-complexioned (#33bis). The table embroidery is shown in detail in that catalog illustration just as it appears here. This example has a particularly handsome face with strong facial planes that engance the mechanical action. The musical box maker was Jules Cuendet of St. Croix whose initials and logo appear on the program label. Circa 1880.