GUSTAVE VICHY TRICYCLE AUTOMATON
French, circa 1860
Bisque-headed boy with black painted hair, carton body, wooden arms, block wooden and wire legs under sewn on costume, metal feet. Seated upon an iron tricycle with two large spoked wheels in the back and a smaller in front from which the pedals protrude. A wind-up mechanism is in the covered tinplate compartment between the two larger wheels. The boy pedals vigorously and the cycle moves forward and in circles. Works but original key missing. Some paint of the tinplate missing and silk clothes discoloured and a bit worn. Completely original.
21,5 x 10 x 19,5 cm