"Le Jeune Noir au Banjo" Musical Automaton by Vichy, c. 1900

With plaster-composition head and hands, modeled as a young black boy with smiling expression, brown glass eyes, articulated eyelids (missing leather) and original mohair wig, sitting on the top rung of a white-painted chair that houses coin-activated going-barrel motor and two-air cylinder movement causing the musician to turn and nod his head, blink, strum, lift and cross his right leg, dressed in bright original satin costume and straw hat trimmed with wax berries, height 23 in. (59 cm), with brass key, back panel of chair missing, only one tune playing. The automaton is preserved in good, unrestored working condition, with original paint finish and attractive costume that shows the usual signs of age-related wear (fragile breeches, splits in the right sleeve and collar). Though not a factory arrangement, the coin-trip (now inactive) and drawer probably date from soon after the automaton's manufacture. - A particularly fine example of a classic Vichy automaton.

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)