Rare Musical Automaton Banjo-Player by Adolph Müller, c. 1900

Germany, modeled as a young black man sitting cross-legged on pine step-ladder, with papier-mâché head, original paint, articulated jaw and brown glass eyes, pierced ears with hoop earrings, astrakhan wig, beard and eyebrows, holding miniature five-string banjo with adjustable turned pegs, the single-air going-barrel movement in the figure's torso causing him to turn and nod his head, strum with his right hand, tap his foot to the music, blink and move his mouth as though singing, dressed in original costume of a Ragtime musician: striped trousers, wing-collared shirt, bowtie, green satin tailcoat, felt top hat and leather shoes, ht. figure 18 ½ in. (47 cm) with hat, 34 in. (86 cm) including the steps, with steel key and brass acorn-form stop/start. Good original unrestored working condition, usual wear to costume. – A rare example of a large German automaton produced for the French market, with beautifully-sculpted facial features and hands, elegant posture and all-original presentation. – Literature: Reprint of 1898 Ernst Holzweissig (successor) catalog, pp. 277–288 for mechanical figures by the same maker.

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)