#4

French Bisque Musical Automaton "Troubadour Playing the Mandolin" Roullet et Decamps
Live Auction

$7,750
sold
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Description
17" (48 cm.) Standing upon a velvet-covered base with ebony wooden feet is a bisque headed troubadour having blue glass paperweight inset eyes, dark eyeliner, painted lashes, brush-stroked brows, accented nostrils, open mouth, outlined lips, four teeth, pierced ears, brunette mohair wig in flowing curls over cork pate, carton torso and legs, wire upper arms, bisque forearms, wearing original elaborate purple velvet costume with rich gilt trim, and holding a wooden mandolin. Condition: generally excellent, music and mechanism function well. Marks: Depose Tete Jumeau 2. Comments: Roullet et Decamps, circa 1890, the model appeared in their original catalog as #369 described as "Persan jouant la mandoline". Value Points: fine original condition with charming presentation, costume, and movements, the automaton is all-original.