Contemporary Musical Automaton Portrait "Putin... Lot n° 560

Contemporary Musical Automaton Portrait "Putin Ecrivain" by Christian Bailly, 2014 Depicting Russian president Vladimir Putin signing the "Treaty of Acceptance of the Republic of Crimea into the Russian Federation" on 18 March 2014, with plaster-composition character head, blue glass eyes and molded hair, seated at walnut writing desk with quill pen and a battery-powered brass lamp, dressed in blue wool suit, patterned silk tie and hand-sewn leather shoes, with single-air going-barrel movement in body, height 20 in. (51 cm), base 12 in. x 17 ¾ in. (30 x 45 cm). With brass key stamped "C.B." and "Olympia" ink-stamp on underside of desk. - References: Christian Bailly, "Automata, the Golden Age", pp. 74-75; Auction Team Breker, 15 November 2015, Lot 549 for another example of this piece. - Inspired by Gustave Vichy's automaton "Pierrot Ecrivain" of c. 1895, Bailly portrays the Russian president at work on the document at his desk. Putin's right hand moves across the paper with a realistic motion followed by his concentrated gaze until, apparently tired by his efforts, the lamp light dims and his head falls, as though on the verge of sleep. Waking, he turns up the lamp and continues writing. The figure's movements are accompanied by a traditional Russian waltz. - This is the second automaton in Bailly's political trilogy, which includes Presidents Barack Obama in 2013 and Kennedy in 2015. - A striking contemporary automaton depicting a significant political event. Musik-Puppenautomat "Portrait von Präsident Wladimir Putin", 2014 Politischer Puppenautomat von Christian Bailly, Paris. Nach dem klassischen Vorbild "Pierrot Ecrivain" von Gustave Vichy, um 1895. Er zeigt den russischen Präsidenten am 18. März 2014 bei der Unterzeichnung des "Eingliederungsvertrages der Republik Krim in die Russische Föderation". Charakterkopf aus Gips, blaue Glasaugen, modelliertes Haar, an einem Schreibtisch aus Nußbaumholz mit Schreibfeder und batteriebetriebener Petroleumlampe aus Messin