Lot 1247* - A212 Decorative Arts - jeudi, 27. mars 2025, 13h30
TIGHTROPE WALKER AUTOMATON
France, mid-19th century.
Made of different materials, in part gilt and polychrome painted. In the center, a tightrope walker with a balancing pole in front of a tree decorated with red drapery and an oriental-inspired railing. In the front left and right, musicians playing an assortment of instruments while seated or standing, including a mandolin, a tambourine, and a triangle. The figures are dressed in oriental-style clothing and stand on a platform with a gilt base decorated with rocaille cartouches and flowers. Below, a rosewood base with mother-of-pearl and brass inlays shaped like foliage, flowers and butterflies. Turning the crank, makes the musicians play their instruments, with the two on the left moving their heads. The tightrope walker jumps up and down, his moving arms balancing his body. 1 winding key. Originally with musical mechanism (missing).
64 × 47 × 31.5 cm.
Provenance:
Signs of use and dirt on the figures and scenery. Scratches and minimal losses on both pedestal parts. Tree needs to be restored.
The automaton shown here is almost identical to “The Tightrope Walker”, which, according to Sotheby's, is attributed to J.F. Houdin (Sotheby's auction, October 20, 2009, lot 1). A comparable model with a built-in clock is shown in Tardy: La Pendule Française, Vol. II, Paris 1969, p. 473. Two further models, with an integrated musical mechanism playing one or six melodies respectively, are shown in Heinrich Weiss-Stauffacher: Musikautomaten und mechanische Musikinstrumente, Zurich 1975, p. 48 and p. 77.
The automaton shown here is almost identical to “The Tightrope Walker”, which, according to Sotheby's, is attributed to J.F. Houdin (Sotheby's auction, October 20, 2009, lot 1). A comparable model with a built-in clock is shown in Tardy: La Pendule Française, Vol. II, Paris 1969, p. 473. Two further models, with an integrated musical mechanism playing one or six melodies respectively, are shown in Heinrich Weiss-Stauffacher: Musikautomaten und mechanische Musikinstrumente, Zurich 1975, p. 48 and p. 77.
CHF 6 000 / 10 000 | (€ 6 190 / 10 310)
Vendu pour CHF 11 875 (frais inclus)