$82,250
Rare Henry Phalibois Automaton of a Chinese Magician and Vanishing Assistant, c. 1920, the magician with papier-mache head, articulated eyelids and in-active jaw, black mohair queue and moustache, standing between a silk-covered magician's cabinet and a large painted die on stand, a fan in his right hand and gong-hammer in his left, on paneled base painted to resemble marble, the electric motor driving three pulleys and thirteen boxwood cams, in Chinese robes and hat, magician 30, standing assistant, 21, seated assistant 10 in., overall ht. 49 x wd. 47 x dp. 21 in. Note: The sequence begins with both cabinet doors closed. The magician waves his fan and turns to the right as the door of the magic cabinet opens to reveal his assistant standing in the narrow enclosure, blinking and flourshing her fan. He turns to the left as the door to the dice cabinet opens and, with the gong-hammer, he points into the empty interior. The magic cabinet door opens once again to disclose the assistant still inside, the magician points to the left and the right with hammer and fan, and then turns and to the left and, after several passes, beats the gong, upon which the dice cabinet door opens to reveal his assistant sitting inside. She flourishes her fan and nods while the door to the now empty magic cabinet opens. Both doors close, and the magician turns to the center to survey his audience, raising the hammer and fan together with equilibrium as both doors open simultaneously to reveal that hi Read more…
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2007-10-28
