Details
Image(s)
TitleMusical Automaton with Cylinder Movement, 'Tea Drinking Chinese Gentleman'
Creator Gustave Vichy
PlaceParis (France)
Year ca. 1885
Object number1053
Object nameautomaton with playing comb, automaton with cylinder
DescriptionAfter pulling out the typical Vichy lever (a brass knob shaped like an acorn) at the back of the automaton, the musical movement plays. The tea drinker blinks his eyelids, rolls his parasol over his shoulder and moves his lower lip. He looks left and right, raises his arm and brings the cup of tea to his mouth. While drinking, his lower lip moves and he tilts his head back. The automaton and his clothes are made of papier-mâché, glass, paper, leather, hair and silk.
Accompanying textsThe music is produced by a playing comb and cilinder movement with two melodies that alternate automatically.
Like many humanoid automata, this figure has a somewhat strange appearance. Although the Vichy firm made many "exotic" figures representing non-European people - for example, stereotyped Black and East Asian figures - they tended to make all their automata using molds that displayed more typically European or white features. A caricature of culturally-specific aesthetic conventions (hairstyles, makeup, facial hair) was then applied to these 'default', European-looking templates.
Like many humanoid automata, this figure has a somewhat strange appearance. Although the Vichy firm made many "exotic" figures representing non-European people - for example, stereotyped Black and East Asian figures - they tended to make all their automata using molds that displayed more typically European or white features. A caricature of culturally-specific aesthetic conventions (hairstyles, makeup, facial hair) was then applied to these 'default', European-looking templates.
Dimensions
geheel height: 100 cm
geheel width: 65 cm
geheel depth: 72 cm
diameter: 58 cm
geheel width: 65 cm
geheel depth: 72 cm
diameter: 58 cm