$36,425
Phalibois Automaton from a Traveling Exhibition, titled "New Woman", probably once coin-operated, depicting a father rocking his two children while his wife sleeps, with papier-mache head, articulated eyes and jaw, the children with closed-mouth bisque heads and glass eyes, in shambolic room setting with original flower papers, chromolithographs in frames, silk-curtained bed half concealing the mother with flowing red hair and articulated breast, a bedside chair with brush and petticoat, a second chair beside the cradle with bassinet on the seat and the father's waistcoat hanging on the back, and abandoned boots, stockings and slippers scattered on the floor, in glazed wood case with gilt frame and rear exterior flywheel turning two pulleys and six brass cams controlling the ten movements; father looks from side to side, blinks, nods and moves his mouth as though singing to sleep the baby that he rocks in his arms, while simultaneously rocking the cradle of the eldest child with his foot; the child awakes, sits up and raises her arms as though crying, but without making enough noise to disturb her mother who is sleeping, her breast rising and falling beneath the covers. ht. of father 16 in., wd. 49 x ht. 41 x dp. 15 1/2 in. R> Provenance: Purchased in New Zealand in 1967 from Corby's Auctioneers by the vendor's late father, who ran an antique shop in Wellington until his death in 1984. Six automata were offered in the auction: Daniel in the Lions' Den, Headless Clown, D Read more…
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2006-07-29
