2col levitation

A rare “Levitation Hypnotist” by Phalibois is one of three known to exist.

1c circus

“When the Circus Comes to Town” is the theme of this auction featuring automata, dolls and mechanical music.

MUST RUN 11/2

AUTOMATA, MECHANICAL MUSIC AT THERIAULT’S NOV. 11 AUCTION w/2 cuts

avv/gs set 10/18 #716435

MORRISTOWN, N.J. — A collection of fine automata and mechanical music will be presented at auction on Sunday, November 11, by Theriault’s of Annapolis, Md., which specializes in antique dolls and playthings.

The auction coincides with a week of gala opening events for the Murtogh D. Guinness Collection of Automata and Mechanical Music at the local Morris Museum. The Guinness collection is housed in a new wing of the museum, created exclusively for the collection, and on Saturday evening before Theriault’s auction, Theriault’s will host an invitational private preview and reception at the museum.

The auction will offer  mechanical pieces and music, including an early Twentieth Century piece by Phalibois known as “The Levitation Hypnotist.” Only two other examples of this piece are known to exist in the world today. In a performance feat whose mystery could be only rivaled by a living hypnotist, the 39-inch mechanical gentleman causes his lady performing partner to rise from her reclining position to midair, seemingly suspended without help. “The fortunate winner of ‘The Levitation Hypnotist’ will have won the centerpiece of any museum quality collection,” attests Stuart Holbrook, president of Theriault’s.

Other notable automata in the auction include “The Japanese Mask Seller” by Vichy, which Steve and Jere Ryder, noted automata specialists who assisted in the cataloging of the automata and music boxes, declare to be “the finest example of this piece they have seen,” Mueller’s “Seated Black Man with Banjo” and Vichy’s rare “Buffalo Bill Smoker,” who is partnered with a fine example of Vichy’s rare “The Mexican.” Few of either examples are known to exist.

Other highlights include Roullet et Decamps’ “Lady Snake Charmer,” whose six sinuous movements and four tunes rank her in great demand when the piece is so rarely offered; this example is from the ex-collection of well-known Christian Bailly.

Collectors will also be offered “Pierrot Serenading the Moon,” and the rare “Clown Magician” whose head disappears only to appear in a nearby box, and another “Clown Magician” whose pet mouse disappears and reappears in his top hat. A tall and elegant lady by Vichy glides through the room, bisque children present surprises in the baskets they carry and a French chef peeks out from the brioche in which he is hiding while a rare 28-inch grandmother sits knitting and nodding and a bisque French lady plays her harp.

Mechanical musical pieces ranging from parlor music boxes to grand-sized Regina disc players are highlighted by an Mills novelty “Violano-Virtuoso.”

The auction is titled “When the Circus Came to Town,” in reference to an early Roullet mechanical elephant with fine provenance. The mechanical elephant was presented by P.T. Barnum to Wesley Redhead of Des Moines in the mid-1880s following the Barnum and Bailey Farewell Circuit Tour in that city. Included with the elephant are various photographs of the circus parade down Main Street of Des Moines, as well as related newspaper documents and personal journals. The mechanical elephant has remained in the Redhead family until this auction.

Rounding out the sale are 350 antique automata, music boxes and the private doll collection of Mr and Mrs Charles Hall of Lockport, N.Y., as well as other private owner dolls. A Bru is being offered from its original English home; known as “Consuelo’s Bridesmaid,” the doll was couturier costumed in 1895 in homage to the social wedding of that year to the Duchess of Marlborough, cousin of Winston Churchill. The doll collection is also highlighted by other fine French dolls and rare googlies and German characters.

The auction will be conducted at the Governor Morris Westin Hotel. Preview is 9 am and the auction begins at 11 am. For information, 800-638-0422 or www.theriaults.com.