With papier-mâché character head, smiling mouth with parted lips and painted teeth, blue paperweight eyes with articulated eyelids, mohair wig, left hand holding a small dumbbell, right hand outstretched to receive a "50K" weight, articulated left elbow, right arm, head and hips, on painted wood platform base containing going-barrel motor, five brass cams and four-air cylinder musical movement, dressed in theatrical cream silk brocade costume, candy-striped shirt, velvet waistcoat with metallic appliqués, red stockings and feathered hat, ht. lowered 25 ½ in. (65 cm), upright 36 in. (92 cm), restoration and some replacement parts, good working condition. With bone-handled crank-key. – The weight lifter bows from the waist until his upper torso is parallel to the floor, flexes his left arm effortlessly from the elbow and then, as effortlessly, scoops up the "50K" weight in his right hand, straightens up, flexes his left arm again to demonstrate that the large weight is as light for him as the smaller one, turns his head, bends and returns the weight to his bench. He then repeats the performance – this time without the weight! – An automaton designed with great ingenuity to lift and lower a free-standing object. This version of the Weight Lifter was originally the work of Henry Phalibois, the example here probably produced during the period of Gaston Decamps' acquisition of the Phalibois factory stock in 1925. – A rare and dramatic circus-themed automaton.