Rare Drinking Polar Bear Automaton by Decamps, c. 1920
With rabbit-fur-covered papier-mâché body, carved wood paws, glass eyes, articulated head, mouth, arms and right elbow, open-spring motor (with stop/start button) in the body and separate pull-string cylinder musical movement playing a drinking song from "La Traviata", on leatherette-covered base with satin-lined draw for the steel key, ht. bear 16 ½ in. (42 cm), total 19 ½ in. (50 cm). – The bear lifts and tips the flask to pour liquid into the cup, which he lifts to his mouth, throws his head back, appears to take a gulp and then drains the cup. The cup returns to the midway position and the bear repeats the feat of pouring and drinking again and again. The liquid travels through a pipe in his left arm, around his shoulders and back into the flask, using the force of gravity to create the illusion of drinking. An ingeniously simple and effective automaton by Gaston Decamps, in good working order.

Seltener trinkender Eisbär-Automat von Decamps, um 1920
Mit Kaninchenfell überzogener Korpus aus Papiermaché, aus Holz geschnitzte Pfoten, Glasaugen; Kopf, Maul, Arme und rechter Ellbogen sind beweglich, im Körper verborgener Federwerkmotor (Starthebel auf dem Rücken), separates Musikwerk mit dem Trinklied aus "La Traviata", Fadenaufzug; auf mit Kunstleder überzogenem Sockel mit satingefütterter Schublade für den Schlüssel, Höhe des Bärs 42 cm, Gesamthöhe 50 cm. – Der Eisbär hebt die Flasche hoch, kippt diese und füllt den Becher mit Flüssigkeit, führt den Becher zum Mund, wirft den Kopf zurück, scheint einen Schluck zu trinken und leert dann den Becher. Dieser Vorgang wiederholt sich immer wieder, der Bär füllt seinen Becher und trinkt ständig weiter. Die Flüssigkeit fließt durch einen Schlauch in seinem linken Arm, seine Schultern und zurück in die Flasche, dies funktioniert ausschließlich mit Schwerkraft um die Illusion des Trinkens zu schaffen. – Ein genial einfacher aber effektiver Automat von Gaston Decamps in gut funktionierendem Zustand.

Start Price: EUR 2000





  • Condition: (2/2)

Accepted Forms of Payment:

Money Order / Cashiers Check, Wire Transfer

Shipping

Buyer pays the Shipping Cost.
Each shipment is carried out on the account and risk of the purchaser. Insurance possible on request. We will charge at least EUR 20.- plus 19% tax for mail delivery, packing and transport for every single machine/lot. Shipping to foreign and overseas customers will be charged for the effective costs and desired way (airmail, surface mail, air freight etc.). These charges (and only these) can be paid by all major Credit Cards with exp.date and 3- or 4-digit CVV (security code) or by PayPal (no BidPay or Western Union is accepted).

by Auction Team Breker
May 21, 2016 10:00 AM CEST
Otto-Hahn-Str. 10
50997 Köln , Germany

Auction Team Breker

You agree to pay a buyer's premium of 22.3% and any applicable taxes and shipping.

View full terms and conditions

Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
€0 €299 €20
€300 €799 €50
€800 €1,199 €100
€1,200 €2,199 €200
€2,200 €3,999 €300
€4,000 €5,999 €400
€6,000 €7,999 €500
€8,000 €15,999 €1,000
€16,000 €25,999 €2,000
€26,000 + €3,000