自动音乐玩偶"表演高跷的杂技演员", Vichy制造, 约1900年

With composition head, original paint, smiling mouth, fixed brown glass eyes, arched brows with shaded eyelids, rosy cheeks and red-tipped nose, articulated at the neck, hips and shoulders, on painted base containing going-barrel motor playing 2 airs, dressed in gymnast's costume with polychrome printed velvet bodice and star appliqué on the chest, height 40 in. (102 cm) in handstand position, with Vichy crank key and "acorn" stop/start. Provenance: Former collection of Jerry Steinbaum. – The sequence begins with the acrobat standing on the stool. Propelling himself forwards upon the swaying stilts until his feet appear to be resting on the rungs, he raises his body into a handstand position, arches his back and looks up for applause. With a final flourish he lifts the right stilt off the ground twice and then gracefully lowers himself back onto the stool. – The acrobat on stilts is a rare variant of Vichy's various
équilibriste automata, one of the few examples of this model known. An impressive and ingenious automaton in working order!