罕见的自动玩偶音乐机“神奇的幻觉“, Henry Phalibois制造, 约1920年

Depicting a Chinese magician and vanishing lady, the magician with papier-mâché head, articulated eyelids and jaw, black mohair queue and moustache, holding a fan in his left hand and mallet in his right, in traditional embroidered robe, on paneled base designed as a stage with scenery. The electric motor driving three pulleys and thirteen boxwood cams, magician 30 in. (76 cm) with hat, overall height 48 in. (122 cm) x width 47 in. (129 cm), eyelids need attention. – The sequence begins with both cabinet doors closed. The magician waves his fan and turns to the right as the door of the magic cabinet opens to display his female assistant blinking and moving her fan. He turns to the left as the door to the dice cabinet opens and points into the empty interior. The magic cabinet door opens once again to show the assistant still inside. The magician points to the left and the right with hammer and fan and then beats the gong as the dice cabinet door opens a second time to reveal his assistant now sitting inside. She waves her fan and nods while the door to the now empty magic cabinet opens. Both doors then close. The magician turns to the centre as the cabinets open simultaneously: the lady has completely disappeared! The doors close and the magician nods his head at the completion of his trick. The cabinets are illuminated by an electric light from a pair of lotus-flower lamps at suitable moments during the sequence. – Literature:Chapuis and Droz, "Les Automates", p. 261 for a similar piece in evening dress. – Provenance: During the 1930s this automaton was leased to shops and business in Indianapolis by H. L. McFarland Animated Displays/Unique Advertising for the sum of $10 a week. A file containing original documents, letters and photographs is included in the lot. Accompanying a number of weekly rental agreements from 1932 are two photographs taken in the window of the Superior Woolen Company Tailors and three testimonials from satisfied businesses that rented the "Mysterious Illusion". – A rare and remarkable piece, companion to "Le Magnétiseur (cross reference lot 435 in this auction)!

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)