A very rare Antique Temperance Movement double monkey musical automaton under glass dome, by Jean Phalibois,

circa 1880,

A hymnal moment beneath the spring blossom...

When wound and the start stop pull actuated, the lady singer and man organ grinder perform with the lady looking down, bending her head to sing from the hymn book lifted closer by her hand. She opens and closes her mouth and eyelids. She is accompanied by the organ grinder who also sings along opening and closing his mouth and eyelids, turns his head from side to side and cranks the organ on its stand.

 The heads and hands of painted papier-mache, dressed in fine silk shirt and jacket, blouse and dress with spin and roll curled white wigs. The organ grinder completed with black and gold trimmed wedge hat.

Both are standing beneath a mature blossoming tree in a garden flanked by reed stalks and dried ferns, on a lawn mount.

They are protected under a reverse painted glass dome bearing blue sky and mountain hills to the sides.

 The ebonised square base with shaped profile, winding spindle to left for the key-wind musical movement by Paillard, serial number **749, with a single-section comb on reeded cast gilt bedplate. It plays six traditional airs, with an instant stop rod to twin governor.

The separate automaton key-wind movement with large single-spring motor, direct drive union stile to cam rod for a double cluster of wire-trace cams with one group of four for the organ grinder and one group of five for the lady singer. Cast metal sprung return levers to twine actuated body parts. Change/repeat lever to rear, instant stop and automaton start/stop to right hand side of the ebonised square base, with two period winding keys, fully and sensitively restored throughout using period materials.

Size:  40cm wide, 37cm deep and 61cm high including dome.

Point of interest -

The Temperance Movement is still very much an active part of many people's lives.  Phalibois created many automatons where general rural life was displayed and monkeys were almost always used.  This scene is very interesting as far as a specific subject is concerned and to date, no other Phalibois automaton has this design with two equally sized figures, with as many movements, to this particular subject. 

In his 1882 catalogue, Phalibois had an organ grinder with girl dancer, with the dancer as a half-size affair beneath rose tree.  That is the closest comparison. 

A superb example of either a one-off piece to be sold as a chance, or as a commission-made contract item which had a specific home before it was even made.

The six-air cylinder movement is the very highest of standard as a feature with this type of automaton.  Usually a two air affair with limited spring power, this superb movement within broadcasts excellent notation and with great melodic complexity, the accompaniment to the nine-point movement above completes the magical experience.

What a treat to see this piece up close.