Monkey Fisherman Musical Automaton by Jean-Marie Phalibois, c. 1

With papier-mâché head, green glass eyes, articulated mouth and carved wood hands holding pipe and rod, perched on sculpted papier-mâché bank above a reflecting pond with glass surface shaded by a cherry tree, the fisherman dressed in his original mauve satin jacket with lime-green sleeves and epaulettes, velvet hat and cream breeches trimmed with lace, ribbons and Dresden paper, on ebonized base housing going-barrel motor, eight wood cams, pulley and (later) cylinder movement, under antique glass dome, ht. 26 ½ in. (67 cm), mouth and eye movements inactive. - The fisherman brings the pipe to his mouth in a philosophical manner and casts the line with a realistic three-way articulation of the right arm as a speckled orange carp flits back and forth beneath the pond's surface. - References: For a similar piece see Auction Team Breker, 9. November 2018, Lot 272. - Literature: Mary Hillier, "Automata and Mechanical Toys", p. 114. - No. 2265 in Silver & Fleming's 1884 catalog. - A rare and humorous automaton in unrestored working condition.

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)