Thursday 10 July 2025

Lot 32

A French musical automaton of an elephant, in the style of Roullet & Decamps, Paris, late 19th...

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Lot 32

A French musical automaton of an elephant, in the style of Roullet & Decamps, Paris, late 19th...

Starting Bid: £700

Estimate: £1,000 - £2,000

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Lot 32

Description

A French musical automaton of an elephant, in the style of Roullet & Decamps, Paris, late 19th century, of painted suede covered papier-mâché composition, with bone tusks and glass eyes, depicted standing and wearing a shawl and glasses while reading sheet music on a stand, his trunk appearing to extend to turn the handle of a barrel organ and his front left foot stamping on a foot pedal to beat a drum, on a rectangular base, with key winding mechanism with start/stop lever, with associated winder, 47cm wide, 24cm deep

Roseberys cannot guarantee the working order of any automaton. 

Wear throughout consistent with age and use, including discolouration, marks and scratching to suede on elephant, heavy marks and possible restoration to legs. Trunk is fragile and with tearing. Shawl heavily worn with discolouration, fraying and re-stitching. Base with surface scratching, knocks and split to front right corner. Wear to sheet music. Currently working when wound, but drum is not effective as the original velum head has been replaced with cardboard, while the velum to underside is heavily bent and worn. Vacant hole to top of drum. Beater rod is rusting and lining of foot pedal with wear. Associated winder.

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Buyer's Premium

The buyer shall pay the hammer price together with a premium thereon of 26% up to £20,000 (31.2% inclusive of VAT), 25% from £20,001 - £500,000 (30% inclusive of VAT), 20% from £500,001 thereafter (24% inclusive of VAT). The premium price is subject to VAT at the standard rate.

VAT
VAT is not charged on the hammer price unless it is stated that there is 'VAT applicable on the hammer price at the end of the description. Buyer's premium is subject to VAT.
(ARR) - ARTIST'S RESALE RIGHT

Qualifying living artists and the descendants of artists deceased within the last 70 years are entitled to receive a re-sale royalty each time their work is bought through an auction house or art market professional.

It applies to lots with hammer value over £1,000 as follows:
0 to £50,000 - 4%
£50,000.01 to £200,000 - 3%
£200,000.01 to £350,000 - 1%
£350,000.01 to £500,000 - 0.5%
Exceeding £500,000 - 0.25%
ARR is capped at £12,500

Please note ARR is calculated in euros. Auctioneers will apply current exchange rates.

Export of goods

Buyers intending to export goods should ascertain whether an export licence is required before bidding. Export licences are issued by Arts Council England and application forms can be obtained from its Export Licensing Unit. Details can be found on the ACE website www.artscouncil.org.uk or by phoning ACE on 020 7973 5188. The need for import licences varies from country to country and you should acquaint yourself with all relevant local requirements and provisions before bidding. The refusal of any such licences shall not permit the cancelling of any sale nor allow any delay in making full payment for the lot.

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