Two wind vanes, late 20th century, comprising: an Indonesian example, wood, bamboo,...

Two wind vanes, late 20th century, comprising: an Indonesian example, wood, bamboo, coloured tinplate, wire, approx. 43cm high, 54cm wide; and Rock Singer, painted wood, plastic card, spring, safety pin, nylon thread, approx. 55.5cm high; together with: a cowhide and wood rotating drum, 41.5cm high; a Whirlybird flying propeller toy, other propeller toys; and Peasant Dance, Madeira Portugal, bamboo, wood, wire, wool and cotton textiles, raffia, tape, bottle tops, approx. 51cm high (lot)

Sir Nicholas Goodison noted: As the wind rotates the vane the three loosely jointed clappers on the shaft strike the bamboo notes. The stronger the wind the faster the notes. The shaft also drives the peasant to raise and lower his arm so that the cow too raises its head as the peasant pulls it. The vane would normally be mounted on a rod or peg on a building the upright shaft is hollow bamboo and the vane would turn to reflect the direction of the wind. It wouldnt last long in a tornado. The peasant appears to be sowing or tilling and the weather is clearly hot.

Rock singer: Pulling down on the yellow card raises the playing arm and tilts the guitar. Any rhythm can be played, from short regular strums to grand sweeps in which the guitar moves more dramatically. Pulling the yellow card also creates the music as the blue disc, from which the separate threads lead to arm and guitar, strikes the four hanging metal strips which are tuned to four different notes. This hanging toy is akin to jumping jacks. The singer is stylish, fit for Glastonbury or Hyde Park, with his dark glasses and safety pin ear-ring. We will never know what sort of voice he has but we are probably better off not knowing and the lack of a microphone is a blessing.

Peasant Dance: There are five peasants, each with percussion instruments. At the top a male peasant clashes Brisa bottle-top cymbals. Below him two male and two female peasants with castanets on their backs jump up and down, activating the castanets, as the handle at the bottom raises and lowers the striped bamboo sleeve and its platform on which they stand. Beneath the platform are four pairs of Brisa bottle tops which clash together if the movement is vigorous enough. It all makes a rhythmic party noise. Brisa is a Madeiran brand of soft drinks produced by Empresa da Cervejas da Madeira.

Provenance:

Indonesian wind vane: Purchased, Idonia van der Bijl, 25a Museum Street, London, January 1994.

Rock Singer: Purchased, Ducks Toy Shop, Marlborough, Wiltshire, March 1995.

Peasant Dance: Purchased, Kristin Baybars, London, May 1996.

Roseberys do not guarantee the working order of any automata or toy.