Life-sized Electric Automaton Torchbearer by Franz Oehrlein

Mainz, Germany. Papier-mâché and composition figure of an African boy holding aloft a giltwood torch, realistically modeled and painted, with articulated side-glancing eyes and lower lip, dressed in striped silk breeches, bolero jacket and turban, on wood plinth decorated with carved crest and monogram "EM", with electric motor causing the figure to lift the torch, turn his head and look up to the light while his eyes dart from left to right, his mouth moves and one of two recordings plays: "Es ist aber nett, dass du uns besuchen kommst. Herzlich willkommen!" ("It's kind of you to visit us. Welcome!") or "Euer Besuch hat uns sehr gefreut. Auf Wiedersehen. Auf ein anderes Mal!" ("We enjoyed your visit. Goodbye and see you again!"), ht. of figure 36 in. (92 cm), complete 61 in. (155 cm). With plaque engraved: "Fr. Oehrlein, Mainz", external speaker and battery-operated remote control. Good working condition, speech slightly out of synch, electrical functions not guaranteed. - Franz Oehrlein (1932-2013) was a renowned organ-builder and automata maker. The piece offered here recalls the carved and highly-decorated torchbearer figures of the late 18th and the 19th centuries. - Oehrlein's work is to be found in notable collections and museums, including Siegfried's Mechanisches Musikkabinett in Rüdesheim am Rhein, Germany, and the Museum für Musikautomaten in Seewen, Switzerland. - An unusual piece, suitable for interactive exhibitions and display.

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)