$14,100
Rare Automaton of a Puppeteer with Theatre, probably by Gustave Vichy , with early Tete Jumeau bisque head stamped in red Depose Tete Jumeau, Bte. S.G.D.G. 9 and painter's mark H9 , large paperweight eyes, feathered brows, closed mouth with outline, pierced ears (small chips), straight neck, cork pate and long brown hair wig falling in ringlets, holding the strings to a toy theatre in one papier-mache hand, the other articulated at shoulder and elbow, the theatre's proscenium with ivory satin and metal-thread curtains enclosing two marionettes with parian heads and original French regional costumes, a third in Venetian costume reclining on the roof, the figure's body containing single-air going-barrel movement, in drop-waisted burgundy satin costume with ruched front, pleated skirt, ribbons and lace epaulets at the shoulders, ht. 26 in. , (old chip and hairline at back of head) Provenance: The collection of Alain Renard, Paris, 1983. The automaton in this lot is illustrated in the Japanese reference book by Goto Keiichiro, (1982), Les Poupees de Paris , p. 179. Note: A similar automaton was offered in the 1884 catalogue of the Parisian department store Au Louvre . With the addition of a Bebe Triste head, an acrobat (instead of marionettes) and an animated dog in her basket, the figure cost 290 francs and was clearly a deluxe model. Only three examples of this other piece are known (two in museums, one in a private collection), while the lot offered here is believed to be Read more…
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2005-11-03
