Dear MMDs,  The first of the two annual large specialized auctions
in Chartres (France), on May 18th, was a good and interesting one,
although (probably due to the morose economic international situation)
several important pieces (mainly automatas) were unsold.

Mechanical music.

Many lots of documentation (books and brochures in English, German and
French) were sold with success, and so for a large number of musical
novelties.

A wonderful Gavioliflute large portable organ, with 2 cylinders, superb
inlay and playing, in a very rare freshness of condition, dated ca 1860,
sold to an enthusiast collector for 13000 euros.  The same price was
paid for a good Limonaire 35 keys, whereas the large Gasparini-Limonaire
organ was unsold.  A large and good modern MIDI operated 146-pipe organ
fetched 9100 euros.

A rare and probably Viennese 26 open pipes movement, for a secretaire
or a large clock, from mid XIXth c., with 10 cylinders, in need of
restoration (No 786), sold for 8000 euros.

A very good Italian vertical small barrel piano, by Gasparo Godone
Torino, from the beginning of the XIXth c., of the type which inspired
the whole Hicks English production, and in original untouched condition,
sold for 3800 euros.  A small 28 keys Tanzbar sold for 2200 euros.

I mention too a curious and interesting electronic "perforate it
yourself" Philips organette from ca 1969 (No 726), for only 130 euros.

There were few musical boxes in this auction (excepting a lot of
novelties): a good musical picture clock sold for 2800 euros, a rare
Gloriosa-Symphonion disc musical Christmas tree stand sold for 2200
euros, and three rare musical gold seals from 1815-1820 sold between
1000 and 1700 euros.

A small (25 cm) bird cage by Bontems, in good condition and playing,
first third of the XXth c, sold for 3750 euros (three times the estimate).
A lot of spare parts for singing birds (feathers, birds, parts) was
disputed 'til it sold for 680 euros.

Automatas.

Most of the usual American buyers were rather absent (economic crisis?)
so a few of them -- present or by phone -- bought a large number of
the "current" automatas, in the 3000/5000 euros range.  (1 euro today
is actually ca 1.15 US dollar; add 15% premium.)  A special mention for
a wonderful "crawling Panther" by Decamps, sold for 4000 euros.  (The
prodigious animated skeleton of this animal is exhibited in the Musee
des Arts et Metiers in Paris.)

The old Vichy "Pierrot Ecrivain" (No 752, featured on the catalog
cover) and the two very impressive modern automatas by the famous
creator J. Monestier were unsold.  A charming "Coquette a sa coiffeuse,"
by Vichy (No 751) sold for 17000 euros, and a good female pianist by
Phalibois (No 763) for 12000 euros.

Personnaly, I loved the "Ronde d'enfants" (No 738), a manivelle musical
German toy featuring seven children dancing in a circle, alternately
clockwise and anti-clockwise, sold for 2500 euros, and a surprising
Decamps jumping clown on its stick for 950 euros.

Fairground artifacts.

There were quite a lot of these, especially carrousel animals,
including, by Mathieu, an elephant and a dromedary, and a good jumping
cat by Bayol, this latter sold for 4600 euros.

Phonos.

Many items, with a good Pathe "Le Gaulois" with original crystal horn,
sold for 3500 euros.

Complete results and next auction.

The complete results of the 230 lots will be posted on the MMD web site
(thanks to Robbie and Jody) together with the catalogue in English and
in French (and the previous auctions since 1998) at the following
address: http://mmd.foxtail.com/Auctions/

Next auction in Chartres (one hour from Paris, France, and a wonderful
Gothic cathedral from the XIIIth century with stained glass windows)
will be the first Sunday in December, 2003.  It will be advertised in
the MMD, and the catalogue will be visible on the MMD web site, but you
can order now the catalogue or take a subscription for two years by
asking directly the auction house (address on the MMD pages mentioned,
or in the agenda of www.musicamecanica.org).

With best regards,

Philippe Rouille  (Paris, France)
http://www.musicamecanica.org/