Automata: Life & Other Illusions 2019-08-24 Auction - 152 Price Results - Potter & Potter Auctions in IL
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Musical Magician Automaton.Magician Automaton from the Film "Sleuth."“Piano Watteau” Pianist Automaton.
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Chicago, IL, United States
Auction Details

Automata: Life & Other Illusions

This sale features the automaton collection of Michael Kam. Over 150 vintage and modern mechanical marvels will go on the block, including rare and unusual examples by Vichy, Lambert, Phalibois, and their contemporaries. Fine and unique examples by modern makers of these intricate living sculptures will also be represented. The automatons will be complemented by a selection of kinetic art, puppets, mechanical toys, and associated objects. Catalogs ship approximately three weeks before the auction. Previews will be held in our gallery August 22?23, 10?5pm.
Auction Curator:
Gabe Fajuri
Gabe Fajuri
President
Lot Number: Lowest
24
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Musical Magician Automaton.: Musical Magician Automaton. France: Alexandre Theroude, ca. 1860. Magician in original satin costume with foil and metal trim, in Turkish slippers, with hand-painted gessoed wooden head, glass eyes,
0001: Musical Magician Automaton.Est. $20,000-$30,000
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Musical Monkey Conjuror Automaton.: Musical Monkey Conjuror Automaton. Paris: Jean Phalibois, ca. 1870s. Mechanical monkey automaton, the figure having a hand-painted paper-mache head, glass eyes, and wire glasses, dressed in
0002: Musical Monkey Conjuror Automaton.Est. $6,000-$9,000
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Acrobat Clown on Two Chairs Automaton.: Acrobat Clown on Two Chairs Automaton. Paris: Louis Renou, ca. 1910. The clown, his hands resting between two wooden chairs, slowly raises his body up, balancing on his hands, until the figure is
0003: Acrobat Clown on Two Chairs Automaton.Est. $20,000-$30,000Lot Passed
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Black Banjo Player Automaton.: Black Banjo Player Automaton. Paris: Vichy, ca. 1910. The diminutive musician sits atop a white wooden chair, and when the key is turned, he strums the banjo in his hands, picking out a tune. Head,
0004: Black Banjo Player Automaton.Est. $8,000-$12,000
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“Piano Watteau” Pianist Automaton.: “Piano Watteau” Pianist Automaton. Paris: Vichy, ca. 1890s. Seated at a cream piano-harp with lyre-shaped foot pedal, adorned with gilt ornaments including five cherubs, roses, berries, and
0005: “Piano Watteau” Pianist Automaton.Est. $15,000-$25,000
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Chanteur by the Gaslight Musical Automaton.: Chanteur by the Gaslight Musical Automaton. Paris: Vichy, ca. 1900. Musical mechanical automaton of a black male figure, papier-mache head with glass eyes, painted features, fleeced hair, articulated
0006: Chanteur by the Gaslight Musical Automaton.Est. $15,000-$25,000
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Bubble Blowing Bear Automaton.: Bubble Blowing Bear Automaton. Paris: Roullet & Decamps, ca. 1930. White bear made of real animal fur with glass eyes and composition hands holds a metal bowl in one paw and bubble blowing wand in
0007: Bubble Blowing Bear Automaton.Est. $2,000-$3,000
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Drinking Bear Automaton.: Drinking Bear Automaton. Paris: Roullet & Decamps, 1940s. The brown and white bear raises the cup to its mouth, takes two swigs, and pours himself another. Genuine fur body with leather and wooden
0008: Drinking Bear Automaton.Est. $1,000-$2,000
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Drinking Bear Automaton.: Drinking Bear Automaton. Paris: Roullet & Decamps, 1940s. The dark brown and white bear raises the cup to its mouth, takes two swigs, and pours himself another. Genuine fur body with leather and
0009: Drinking Bear Automaton.Est. $1,000-$2,000
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Drinking Polar Bear Automaton.: Drinking Polar Bear Automaton. Paris: Roullet & Decamps, 1940s. The fur-covered white polar bear figure raises the cup to its mouth, takes two swigs, and pours himself another. Genuine fur body with
0010: Drinking Polar Bear Automaton.Est. $1,500-$2,500
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Levitation Automaton.: Levitation Automaton. Paris: Roullet & Decamps, 1920s. Large and impressive automaton in the form of a tuxedo-clad magician standing behind a trestle-supported fabric-covered table. The
0011: Levitation Automaton.Est. $15,000-$25,000
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Drinking Raccoon Automaton.: Drinking Raccoon Automaton. Paris: Roullet & Decamps, 1940s. The fur-covered racoon raises the cup to its mouth, takes two swigs, and pours himself another. Striped tail. Genuine fur body with wooden
0012: Drinking Raccoon Automaton.Est. $1,500-$2,500
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Drinking Monkey Automaton.: Drinking Monkey Automaton. Circa 1900. Seated monkey figure holds a bottle in one hand and a cup in the other. When the mechanism is activated, he raises the bottle above the cup, pours a drink, and
0013: Drinking Monkey Automaton.Est. $1,500-$2,000
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Chinese Magician Automaton.: Chinese Magician Automaton. Germany: Adolphe Mueller, ca. 1895. The conjurer stands behind his table, a wand in one hand, a large cone in the other. As the cone is lifted and lowered over the table,
0014: Chinese Magician Automaton.Est. $15,000-$20,000
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Walking Bear Automaton.: Walking Bear Automaton. Paris: Roullet & Decamps, 1900s. Brown fur-covered bear with trainer’s muzzle and chain over his mouth. Four articulated legs terminating in wooden feet allow the bear to
0015: Walking Bear Automaton.Est. $400-$600
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Roullet & Decamps Ironing Cat Automaton.: Roullet & Decamps Ironing Cat Automaton. Fur-covered cat figure with glass eyes standing at a wooden ironing board with plastic iron, whose head would nod and arm move side to side with iron.
0017: Roullet & Decamps Ironing Cat Automaton.Est. $300-$500
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Roullet & Decamps Strutting Chicken.: Roullet & Decamps Strutting Chicken. Feather-covered papier-mache body with felt comb, heavy cast metal legs, strutting and laying eggs (not included). Height 12”. Losses and matting to feathers.
0018: Roullet & Decamps Strutting Chicken.Est. $400-$600
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Growling Bear Automaton.: Growling Bear Automaton. Circa 1920. The diminutive bear moves up and down and lurches forward when the clockwork mechanism is activated. Covered in real fur with glass eyes and wooden paws. Original
0019: Growling Bear Automaton.Est. $500-$1,000
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Walking Pig Automaton.: Walking Pig Automaton. Paris: Roullet & Decamps, ca. 1920. Articulated pig with leather-covered body walks forward, turns his head back and forth, and “oinks” after the mechanism is activated.
0021: Walking Pig Automaton.Est. $500-$700
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Walking Peacock Automaton. (Le Paon Marchant).: Walking Peacock Automaton. (Le Paon Marchant). Paris: Roullet & Decamps, ca. 1910. The mechanical bird walks across the floor, stopping momentarily to raise and then triumphantly fan his tail
0022: Walking Peacock Automaton. (Le Paon Marchant).Est. $7,000-$9,000
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Rabbit in Hat Automaton.: Rabbit in Hat Automaton. Paris: Roullet & Decamps, ca. 1910. A snow white rabbit rises from the center of the silk opera hat when the mechanism is triggered. Real fur, glass eyes, and paper leaves
0023: Rabbit in Hat Automaton.Est. $1,000-$2,000
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Ladder Acrobat Automaton.: Ladder Acrobat Automaton. Paris: Leopold Lambert, ca. 1890. When the concealed internal mechanism is activated, the female acrobat atop the metal ladder slowly raises herself to a vertical position,
0024: Ladder Acrobat Automaton.Est. $6,000-$8,000
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Clown on Ladder Acrobatic Automaton.: Clown on Ladder Acrobatic Automaton. Paris: Lambert, ca. 1900. The acrobat raises his body up and kicks back his feet, then lets go with one hand, performing a handstand, pushing upward three times.
0025: Clown on Ladder Acrobatic Automaton.Est. $6,000-$8,000
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