自动玩偶音乐机“班卓琴弹奏者“, Gustave Vichy制造, 约1890年

With composition head and original paint, modeled as a young black man with smiling expression, dimpled cheeks, articulated tongue and "dancing" leather eyelids, green paperweight eyes, pierced ears, black mohair wig and elegant composition hands playing fivestring banjo, two-air going-barrel movement with steel Vichy key and "acorn" stop/start in the torso, on ebonized plinth, dressed in green velvet jacket, gold satin collar and bowtie, height 20 in. (51 cm), minor topical craquelure that does not detract from overall appearance. – The banjo-player turns and nods his head, winks his eyes alternately, sticks of his tongue and strums with his right hand. Once in a while, he pauses, lifts his arm high into the air and thumbs his nose cheekily at the audience. – Vichy intended this piece as the companion to his automaton half-figure of a lady playing the lyre. They were perhaps inspired by the bronze busts of sculptor Emile Guillemin (1841–1907). As a piece of animated sculpture, the attractive original painted surface resembles the patina of bronze.– A handsome character in good working condition, with lively music and an amusing finale! – Provenance: Ex-collection of Jerry Steinbaum.

布雷克拍品等级是为了方便竞买人判断拍卖品的成色而设置的。布雷克等级用1到6级来标注外观和功能的成色，(从非常好到非常差)。 在目录图册里用括号里的2个数字来表示，前一个数字表示外观成色的级别，后一个数字表示功能成色的级别。如(3/2)表示外观成色是3(满意的)，功能成色2(好)。 成色 定义参照下列标准： 1 - 非常好 (未使用过，没有使用痕迹) 2 - 好 (新，极少的使用痕迹) 3 - 满意的 (普通的使用痕迹) 4 - 及格的 (明显的使用痕迹，某个非主要部件是后配的) 5 - 有缺陷的 (极明显的使用痕迹, 某个主要部件是后配的，功能上有缺陷，需要修理) 6 - 非常差 (严重破损, 缺少重要部件)