Unusual Advertising Automaton by Lambert, c. 1900

Depicting a gentleman with cane and advertising placards, with papier-mâché head, original paint, brown glass eyes, brown hair wig, bisque hands, velvet-covered base with single-air going-barrel movement and rotating stand for two additional cards, dressed in wool breeches and cape, tartan overcoat, pocket watch on chain and cream silk top hat, ht. 28 in. (71 cm) including hat, with key, one little finger replaced, spring-driven movement is appropriate but not original to the automaton. – Literature: Bailly, "Automata, the Golden Age", p. 351 for a similar automaton described as "Frappeur" (Window Tapper). – The figure was designed to attract the attention of passers-by by tapping his cane on a shop window, turning his head and holding aloft his placard while the spring-loaded stand rotates to display additional information. – Here the automaton displays three trade cards for the tonic "Pâte Pectorale et Sirop de Nafé de Delangrenier" illustrated with scenes of Pierrot and Columbine. Interesting piece for collectors of advertising and medical memorabilia.

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)