A Very Rare And Fine Chinese Opium Smoker Automaton By Gustave Vichy

with papier-mache gessoed head and hands, with painted detail, full set of teeth, inset glass eyes, moustache, hair wig under Guan headdress, standing and in full traditional silk kimono of stylised floral ties on varying hued magenta ground, belt with clustered black glass bead knot, cream silk shirt with petal cuffs and folded sleeves, matching red silk shoes, holding furled Chinese parasol with his left hand and an opium pipe with his right, standing upon shaped velvet-covered base, when actuated, the complex action and very smooth running order sees him opening and closes his eyes, turns head, opens mouth, brings the pipe to his lips, inhales and returns his hand down before turning head and exhaling the smoke from his mouth, in superb working condition with the full charm and sensitive conservation heeded by recent restoration - 29in. (74cm) high

One of the rarest and most sought-after smoker automatons made by the finest character automaton makers of the late 19th century in France - the Vichy family.

Like a series, it is not uncommon to find clues and elements of one model made seen on another by the same maker. No exception here when the parasol is examined where this fully openable part is the same parasol used for the exceptionally rare sister to this model - the Chinese lady tea drinker, where she has hers open and rotating during the performance.

The silk retention, colour and condition of this piece is superb and although very comprehensive restoration has taken place, no charm or movement detail has diminished at all. This is a very good example of how conservation should be seen. All the way through, even the fully stamped movement and movement compartment within this torso bears the colour and condition a higher calibre collector should expect.

A superb example of a fine Vichy smoking automaton to grace the market for some years.

See Lot 7, 15th May 2004, 'Golden Age of Automata', Theriault's Auctioneers, USA, for an example of this model, but re-dressed in modern silk, (sold for $15,000).