19\" (48 cm) Antique French Automaton Clown with Harp by Gustav Vichy with two tunes, Original Silk Costume, c.1870

Wonderful rare automaton with movements and two tunes. One of them is La Marseillaise! Standing upon a beautifully-grained walnut base is a bisque-head clown,having painted eyes, open/closed mouth, original three color clown wig, carton torso and legs, wire upper arms, metal hands. He is posed behind a wooden harp with gold leaf accents,and is wearing his original clown silk costume. When wound, the clown turns and nods his head,and plucks at the harp, while music plays. Very rare early model with original costume and presentation.

Condition: generally excellent! A mechanism and music function well.

19\" (48 cm.) tall. Gustav Vichy, circa 1870.

The doll head marked AeM, Made in Austria Comments - Aich, Menzel & Company dolls once known as Porzellanfabrik Aich was founded in Aich, Bohemia. They were founded in 1848 by A.C. Anger and existed until 1930. By the way, the marks on the Menzel dolls have been very confusing to collectors. The “AeM Austria” or “A&M Austria” is mistakenly referred to as Austria’s AM or Armand Marseille. Armand Marseille dolls have no “&” ampersand between the first and last name and his factory was in Germany, not Austria.

YOU CAN SEE VIDEO HERE https://youtu.be/Rsq2YVChLgo

SHIPPING FROM FRANCE... I DO A LAYAWAY.

Please email me if you have any questions or need more photos. Thanks for looking.

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