Passed
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Description
28" (71 cm.) Arranged upon an oval-shaped ebony wooden platform is a paper-mache monkey-person standing behind a conjuror's table with fringed silk cover and lithographed paper surface,under an over-reaching arbor of silk leaves and flowers. The monkey has brown glass blinking eyes,open mouth with double row of teeth,hinged jaw,mohair wig,beard and moustache,and is wearing elaborate silk and velvet Magician costume. Movements and Music. When the music begins,the Conjuror turns his head from side-to-side,nods as though to direct that the action will begin,and then,in synchronic movements with the nods,lifts the cups on the table to reveal various "magic" surprises": dice,orange ball,buttons,and such. Throughout he blinks his eyes,and open and closes his mouth as though calling out. Two musical tunes occur from a separate pull-string and lever. There are seven wooden cams directing the actions. Phalibois,Paris,circa 1885. An original pencil script marking "Escomoteur No.2" inside the base indicates Phalibois' original name for the automaton. A nearly identical piece appeared in Silber and Fleming of London trade catalog of the era. In some instances,despite its production as a show of magic,the automaton was actually used for gambling purposes (notwithstanding that the numbers on the dice were always the same!).