A figural bust displayed upon its original ebonized wooden base portrays a very beautiful dark brown complexioned lady playing a lyre. The beautifully-feathered paper mache head has highly characterized features, rich complexion with gleaming patina, brown glass eyes, leather eyelids, open mouth with single row of teeth, and black mohair wig in original coiffure. She has carton torso and brown paper mache hands with fingers realistically sculpted as though to play the lyre. She wears her original blue silk kimono with embroidered edging, ivory silk sleeves and bodice. The lyre of fine maple wood has hand painted floral designs and original strings. The mechanism is activated by original attached Vichy key and pull lever. There is an original brass label on the front, "G. Vichy, Paris, Modele Depose" with the additional insignia of a triangle containing the words "Marque Depose, Article Francais" enclosing the number 5.
Movements: She nods and turns her head in a series of realistic and complicated nods, her eyes blink and she plays the lyre with movements of both her elbow and her wrist in an elegant manner. Music plays.
Historical references: From a series of parlor display automata created by Vichy, this example portraying an elegant woman from his Ethiopian or Moorish series, and clearly designed to appeal to the wealthy aristocrats who flocked to Paris from those exotic places in the late 19th century, eager to spend their wealth on luxurious objects. This example has appeal of beauty, lovely motion and beautiful music. The "5" in the brass label referred to Vichy's assigned position in the Chambre Syndicale of Paris, whose purpose was to unify and strengthen French doll and toy makers; Vichy was an early member. The style of the mark indicates that this piece was produced after 1897, probably for the 1900 Paris International Exposition.