#172

French Bisque Automaton
Live Auction

$6,000
sold
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Description

18" (46 cm.) Standing upon a maroon velvet covered base is a bisque-head boy with blue glass paperweight inset eyes, lushly painted lashes, wide brushstroked brows, closed mouth with accented lips, pierced ears, brunette mohair wig over cork pate, carton torso and legs, wire upper arms, bisque forearms, wearing cavalier costume of ivory and rose silk, black silk hat, and carrying a woven basket of silk flowers in which a bee is perched. When wound, music plays, the boy turns his head from side to side, then lifts the bouquet of flowers he holds in his right hand while the bee in the basket flits around as though to gather honey from the flowers. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Depose Tete Jumeau 3 (doll) LB (key) La Czarine (and another illegible title, two tunes on paper label on base with LB label). Comments: Leopold Lambert, circa 1888. Value Points: wonderfully amusing activity of busy bee, merrily-costumed lad, two tunes with original label.