Description:
Early Manivelle Automaton of a Violin-Player by Theroude, with papier-mâché character head, painted eyes, smiling mouth, pointed nose and chin, carved wood hands holding a violin and bow, the left arm articulated at the wrist, elbow and shoulder, the mahogany base with hand-turned mechanism driving two-air cylinder movement by L'Epee, No. 23055, three wood cams and steel starwheel causing the figure to turn and bow his head and move his right arm in time to the music, in the original mauve silk tailcoat, blue breeches, waistcoat and cravat trimmed with lace, brass rosettes and metal-thread braid, ht. 12 in., five movements.
Note: Alexandre Theroude patented a design for a similar arm movement in a monkey violinist in 1862.
Estimate $1,000-1,500