Sunday, November 15, 2015

'Lune Fin de Siècle' - A Wonderful End of the 19th Century Automaton

The wonderful and very rare 'Lune Fin de Siècle' (The End Of The Century Moon) Musical Smoking Automaton by Vichy, c. 1891:
Depicting a young man with large full moon face leaning against a fluted column, a cigarette between his lips and a walking cane in his right hand, with plaster-composition head, articulated brown glass eyes and wire monocle, dressed in burgundy satin tailcoat, cream silk waistcoat, yellow tie and pointed shoes.

The figure tilts his head from side to side, rolls his eyes and twirls his cane as he inhales from a lighted cigarette placed in the holder and blows the smoke out through his nose.


The 'Lune Fin de Siècle' - one of Vichy's most recognisable automata - draws on the popularity of the moon as a motif in French literature and visual culture during the late 19th and early 20th century.

Gustave Vichy and his son Henry both used the face of the 'Lune Fin de Siècle' as a registered trademark on the company's letterheads, labels and advertising. The original model may have been sculpted by Henry Vichy himself. Certainly the figure shows signs of Henry's influence, including the shapely modeling of the slender body and a sense of the unexpected in the large round head that appears to rest upon it. Another indication of Henry work is the pencil date "9.12.91" found on the figure's bedplate (sic?).


'Lune Fin de Siècle' was part of the Atracciones Apolo, an indoor amusement park opened by Josep Vallés Rovira on Parallel Avenue, Barcelona, in 1935. Atracciones Apolo was a popular destination and featured in two films: 'Apartado des Correos 2001' (1950) and 'El fugitivo de Amberes' (1955). Alongside the magic grotto, the 'Autogruta' ghost train and other rides, the park also contained the 'Museo las Maravillosas Figuras en sus Dioramas' (Museum of Marvellous Figures in their Dioramas) featuring automata exhibited as scenes in floor-standing cabinets.
The marquee of Atracciones Apolo is pictured in the right center.
All operated from electric motors but many (including the 'Lune Fin de Siècle') also retained their original clockwork motors inside the cabinets. According to an article published by 'Edición del Domingo' on 19 August 1990, the automata exhibit closed in 1957. The park closed its doors to the public in around 1991 and the bulk of the building was demolished. The Apolo's collection of automata and mechanical effects was eventually dispersed amongst La Fira bar in Barcelona, the Museu de Joguets i Autòmats in Verdú and a well-known antique doll specialist in the South of England. The automaton [shown] here has been restored to full mechanical function at the House of Automata in Forres, Scotland.

Side views show the magical charm of this fantastical figure.

To read a bit more about this outstanding automaton, as well as view pics of the clockwork and pneumatic system, click this link to get to the Invaluable auction listing. On 7 November 2015 this Lune Fin de Siècle sold for €135,264 ($145,004). Below is a video of the fine Dandy at work.



- Original descriptions and photos found in the Invaluable Auction listing -

Friday, November 6, 2015

Stardust The Super Wizard: He's Just That Kinda Guy


Yes, that's Stardust on the left - he's a big guy. On the right is De Structo - the image is a preview of what's to come. Meet De Structo - a man with a plan...


So, the megalomaniac sets off his plot to exterminate everyone who holds any power: congress leaders and cabinet members, publishers of newspapers and magazines, members of the FBI, the Secret Service and military intelligence, big bankers, industrial leaders everywhere, the army and navy officers and the enlisted men as well, city and state police. Basically, De Structo's list is pretty much a who's-who of persons who are quite unpopular with numerous folks today.

Things go pretty much according to plan until Stardust 'bursts out of space,' destroys De Structo's tech with his supersolar disintegrating ray, and restores order with his powerful counter-acting ray.  There's just one more detail to work out...


And now comes the strange...


Stardust is harsh...he's a karma man...

Wait for it...

THE END...

Comic can be found at Comic Books Plus: Big 3 #2, Winter 1941

Sunday, November 1, 2015

One Big Happy Family: John, Marie, and 24 Performing Fleas

Maria and John Torp, newly weds and their traveling Flea Circus, prepare to hit the road and start life from scratch with the performing fleas. (via Sideshow World)
John Torp, Danish flea trainer, and his new bride, the former Maria Dina Gomez of Brazil...They will be one big happy family,  John, Marie, and 24 performing fleas. Two of the fleas also wed the same day as did John and Maria.