Among the erotic, scientific and exquisite in Rago’s ‘Curiouser and Curiouser’ auction on 1 December are numerous imitations of life: cast rubber mushrooms, enormous wooden insects, and mammals of all sorts, including humans. The auction is a veritable emporium of eccentricities. Here are some of the highlights.
Artist’s models are these articulated figures which have been found among the stocks of art-supply merchants since the Renaissance, reaching their peak of manufacture and popularity in France in 1850. ‘Mannequin Articulé’ would likely be listed in the inventory of important artists' possessions at that time. Still keenly sought after by collectors, their desirability and rarity is defined by size, quality, condition, age and, particularly, the deftness of the carving. There are five in this auction, ranging in size from 18 to 170 cm.
The primary articulated animal form is the horse, used by artists to model movement, with or without a rider.
The rarest of the seven automatons in the sale is this 19th century French mechanism from the Gary & Helen Kalpakjian Collection. Upon activation, a spirited tune issues from the musical movement within while the clown nods his head and leans forward to hammer the lid shut. Suddenly, the lid pops open revealing a delivery man dressed in a brown and yellow-striped uniform who is seen to be struggling to lift the lid and escape, only to have the clown slam the lid back down upon him and continue his hammering. From a hole in the bottom of the crate, a rat scurries in and out as the two men struggle.
The mystery of the sale is this 110 cm-high figure of a boy, exceptionally carved and painted with great care from c. 1840. His features strongly mirror those of figures made by the great American folk sculptor, Asa Ames: the familiar determined look, recognisably-detailed nose and mouth, full eyebrows, finely carved hair and a piercing stare that seems to follow the viewer. Rago is attributing this figure to Ames while research continues.
Over 350 lots are included in Rago’s ‘Curiouser and Curiouser: Outsider and Fine Art. Extraordinary Objects’ sale.
![Important portrait of Caius Julius Caesar of the Camposanto-Pitti type [detail]. Image © HVMC](https://images.prismic.io/barnebys/9270c0c0-ecf4-42c7-ada0-df168ad23e71_d00fa609-4cac-4c97-913d-99cc4b3fb3c0_hero.jpg?auto=format,compress)
