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AI Appraisal
Description
I purchased this at an estate sale as one of two. The other one was melted from the sun and was placed over this one, so one was protected. Both had wooden identical Italian Florentine gold frames with thin glass . I removed the glass from the melted wax one and saw how it was attached, but found no marks to identify this piece. The paper backing appears to be original but has some oil stains where the wax was starting to melt. The slight melting caused several small short cracks where the wax figure was attached to the cardboard backing that was covered with a rough velvet material. This figure has 2 areas where wires embedded in the wax, then go through the backing and secured, covered with glued paper around the deep frame and onto the back of the frame. The box that holds the wax figure is almost an inch thick.
The figure appears to have been molded and hand tinted/painted with shiny gold accents.The figure is of a Renaisance man playing a musical instrument identified as a Hurdy- Gurdy or AKA a barrel piano. The raised scroll designs on the clothing as well as other textured areas are superb! The facial features are very detailed down to the pupils of the eyes. The figure is wearing a pleated collar and turning the crank of the instrument.
The figure measures 10 1/2" tall x 4" wide. I've never come across anything like this in my collecting and haven't found any information on this piece.
Category
Decorative Arts
Medium
wax figure - carved wood frame
Distinguishing marks
MB between feet on wax figure
Condition
Excellent
Size and dimensions of this item
13 1/2 x 7"
Date Period
1800's?
Weight
1 1/2 #
History
Was purchased at an estate sale
eBay Auction Link
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=370247819624
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