French-made magican automaton from the 1880s

Here's an antique automaton depicting a magician performing a cups routine. As music plays in the background the figure raises and lowers the metal cups. The objects under disappear and transform into other objects.

Made in Paris around 1880, the figure is made of papier-mâché with clockwork mechanism and music box inside the base. Most remarkably, this gentleman is wearing his original clothes! While the secret of the magician's trick may not be all that secret, it is unquestionably a fine piece with a rich history.

Contact The House of Automata for more details on this automaton.

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