Lot Number:
22
32" (80 cm.) An elegant lady with oil-painted
papier-mache features,brown glass eyes with
movable eyelids,closed mouth with hint of teeth
and smile,long flowing brunette human hair,carton
torso with lady shape,articulated wrists,long
slender legs posed to balance on one while the
other is stepped back and balanced on
tiptoe,wearing a superb sienna crepe de chine gown
with metallic lace and trim,and with jewelry
hiding the wrist articulation,and painted
sandals,is standing upon a beautifully-crafted
circular rosewood and velvet base with carpeted
floor below the harp. When wound,she gracefully
turns her head side-to-side,blinking her eyelids
and periodically gazing upward at her audience,and
then down to watch her hands glide across the harp
strings in a realistic plucking motion; in
addition,her wrists move independently of her
arms,and her breastplate moves up and down as
though breathing. Condition: generally
excellent,mechanism and music function well.
Comments: Vichy,Paris,circa 1895,their luxury
deposed model #486,which appeared in their catalog
as "Merveilleuse Jouant de la Cythare". Value
Points: extremely rare and prestige automaton with
a stunning detail of quality production ranging
from the cabinetry of the base,to the superb
arch-shaped diatonic harp known as a "cythare"
with elaborately carved figurehead of Bacchus to
the elegant costuming designed to enhance the
gliding movement of the harpist. Ex-Merrick
Collection,this piece was demonstrated at the
founding meeting of Musical Box Society. Few
examples are known to exist.
Realized Price:
$30,000
Presale Estimate:
35,000/55,000