French Paper Mache Mechanical Clown as Puppet

Live Auction

36" (91 cm). Paper mache head with painted orange pate, painted white face with clown features, brown glass eyes, open mouth with painted teeth, muslin body with wooden hands and hollow torso for use as lap puppet. When activated the clown amusingly moves his very long tongue in and out, then wiggles it, eyes move to the center in cross- eyed manner and then back. Condition: very good, original finish, mechanism functions well. Comments: French, circa 1900. Value Points: very rare figure with amusing action, original painted features and sculpted black top hat, silk clown costume.