Musical Automaton Bust of an Ethiopian Lyre-Player by Gustave Vi

With papier-mâché head, open smiling mouth, brown glass eyes with articulated lids, original black mohair wig and a single crescent earring, on ebonized plinth with tune-sheet and metal plaque stamped: "G. Vichy, Paris, 5 Articles Français, Marque Deposé, Modele Deposé", the torso containing going-barrel motor and two-air cylinder movement, in gold silk costume with metallic embroidery, headdress and the original coin decoration, ht. 20 in. (51 cm) including headdress, with acorn-form stop / start and modern key, surface of face restored, good working and playing condition. - Note: Part of a series of Vichy automata reminiscent of the polychrome-painted bronze busts by French artists such as Émile Guillemin and Charles Cordier. The impression of an animated sculpture is heightened by the graceful modelling of the face and hands and the slender plinth base in imitation of its bronze counterparts. From the choice of subject, to the style of costume and the instrument she plays, the automaton was influenced by a 19th century fascination with 'exoticism' that reflected African cultures through a European lens. - The musician turns and gently bows hes head to the left and right, blinks and appears to play the instrument with a lifting and plucking motion of the right arm. - This example has been sympathetically restored by David Secrett and Margaret Glover. - Literature: Q. David Bowers, Encyclopedia of Automatic Musical Instruments, p. 80, for an identical piece, one of several French automata in the catalog of retailer Gustav Uhlig of Halle, Saxony.

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)