吹口哨的大型自动音乐玩偶, Henry Phalibois制造, 约1900年

With papier-mâché character head modeled as a boy with parted puckered lips and hollow cheeks, original paint, blue threaded eyes with articulated "dancing" eyelids, mohair lashes and blonde fleecy wig, posed with arched back, his right hand with index finger outstretched while his left rests in one trouser pocket, on brass-bound rosewood veneered base with coin slot (adapted for manual operation) and ball feet, the large going-barrel movement driving bellows, whistle and cams that cause the boy to tilt his head from side to side, move his right hand to and fro and wink alternately, in original blue velvet suit and beret, height 38 in. (86 ½ cm), with key. The figure whistles two lifelike tunes, one of which is Henry Dacre's popular 1892 song "Daisy Bell" ("A Bicycle built for Two"). Provenance: Ex-Collection of Jerry Steinbaum. – Literature: Bailly, "Automata, the Golden Age", pp. 164–165. – Phalibois advertised automata that could "play, speak, sing, whistle and laugh". The Whistler is characteristic of the firm's playful sense of humor, a rare and iconic model, particularly in this superb original condition!