Aug Fine Art & Collectibles Sale
Lot 199:
Description
Name
19th Century French Automaton Figurine
Dimensions
19th-century French automaton collectible figurine. Far more than an ordinary doll, this piece is a spring-driven mechanical automaton engineered to simulate human movements. It can lift a pipe to its lips as if smoking, turn its head slightly, and perform coordinated motions with the hand holding a vanity mirror. A remarkable fusion of 19th-century mechanical craftsmanship and decorative art, it served as an ornamental collectible cherished by European aristocratic and middle-class households of the era.Designed in the aristocratic gentleman’s style of 18th-century French Rococo, the head and hands are crafted from fine bisque porcelain, the signature material of France’s renowned Jumeau workshop. The facial features are exquisitely hand-painted, with inset glass eyes that appear vivid and lifelike. It wears a hand-woven curly golden mohair wig faithfully recreating classic Rococo hairstyles, exuding refined elegance and gentle demeanour befitting a noble gentleman.Automata depicting aristocratic life of the old era have long remained a highly sought-after category in antique collecting. The piece is fully intact overall; the costume bears noticeable natural signs of age, which do not affect display or collection value. It is exceptionally rare to find such an automaton well-preserved after over a century.
20*20*60cm
Condition: ALL PROPERTY IS SOLD AS IS, WHERE IS, WITH NO RETURNS OR CANCELLATIONS.
Additional photographs and condition reports may be provided upon request as a courtesy only. Any condition report, catalogue description, image, certificate, report, document, authentication statement, authentication opinion, specialist opinion, or communication regarding origin, date, age, attribution, authenticity, authorship, signature, condition, provenance, or value is an opinion only and not a representation, warranty, or assumption of liability by Yakon Auctions.
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