Gustave Vichy Automaton Representing "La Mascotte"

Description:

Gustave Vichy Automaton Representing "La Mascotte", with unmarked Jumeau bisque portrait head, closed mouth, fixed brown paperweight eyes, pierced ears, curly blonde mohair wig on cork pate, straight neck swiveling on bisque shoulderplate, and bisque hands, a wicker basket laden with flowers suspended from her left arm, her torso containing going-barrel movement playing two airs and causing the figure to turn her head from side to side and bow, her left arm proffering flowers as the lid of her basket lifts to reveal a bobbing chick who chirps by means of concealed bellows, wearing elaborate costume of wine velvet jacket over powder-blue pleated bodice and matching skirt swathed in printed ivory silk and trimmed with polychrome tassels and silk flowers, crimson stockings, papier-mache sabots and wide-brimmed hat, ht. 24 in., (head repaired and repainted),five movements and "chirp".

Provenance: Formerly in the personal collection of the late Jack Donovan.

Note: A classic Vichy automaton, this lady represents a figure from Audran's comic opera, La Mascotte, which played to wild applause in Paris and London between 1880 and 1897. The musical movement in the body plays La Mascotte Valse and one other air, possibly Mme. Boniface (1883). The automaton was originally offered by Silber & Fleming in London for £5.50. Another example of La Mascotte can be seen in the Guinness Collection, Morristown, New Jersey.
Estimate $5,000-8,000

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