fernand martin - VERY RARE FERNAND MARTIN 1910 ‘LES VALSEURS’ WITH BOX - Wind-up tin toy - 1910-1919 - France
06
days
13
hours
28
minutes
12
seconds
Current bid
€ 1,250
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Sean Devitt
Worked 12 years at a major UK auction house valuing and curating toys.
Estimate € 2,800 - € 3,100
 | €1,250 | |
|---|---|---|
 | €1,000 | |
| €121 | |
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 143806 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Fernand Martin Les Valseurs (The Waltzers), a circa 1908–1910 lithographed tin clockwork automaton, height about 19 cm, in nearly pristine condition and presented with the original factory box.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Description:
For the absolute connoisseur and top collector of antique French tin toy figures: an almost unobtainable gem in this condition. This is the legendary "Les Valseurs" (The Waltzers / The Dancers), produced by the iconic Parisian toy maker Fernand Martin around 1908.
What makes this specific piece a true museum object is not only the exceptionally beautiful, original condition of the dancing pair (the fabric clothing, the paint on the tin faces, and the mechanism), but also the presence of the extremely rare original cardboard box. Cardboard boxes for Fernand Martin toys nearly always disappeared at the time; a surviving example in this condition is a worldwide absolute rarity.
Specifications & Details
* Manufacturer: Fernand Martin (Paris, France)
* Model: Les Valseurs (The Waltzers / The Dancers), catalog number 219
* Year of manufacture: circa 1908 - 1910
* Material: Lithographed tin, tin heads, original fabric clothing
* Height: circa 19 cm
* Drive: Refined clockwork mechanism
* Accessories: Includes the extremely rare, original factory box.
Condition Report
* Visual: In gorgeous, nearly untouched condition. The clothing colors have remained strikingly fresh. The original details on the litho tin and the faces are razor-sharp.
* Mechanical: The mechanism is fully functional. After winding, the clockwork moves the pair, gracefully rolling across the table, exactly as Fernand Martin intended over a century ago.
* The Box: Authentic, with the original historic labels. Stunning collectors’ condition with light, age-appropriate signs that contribute to its unique character.
Fernand Martin toys are renowned worldwide for depicting daily life in Belle Époque Paris. "Les Valseurs" captures the romance of that era like no other. This is no longer a toy; it is a historic work of art, ready for a prominent place in a display case or private museum.
Description:
For the absolute connoisseur and top collector of antique French tin toy figures: an almost unobtainable gem in this condition. This is the legendary "Les Valseurs" (The Waltzers / The Dancers), produced by the iconic Parisian toy maker Fernand Martin around 1908.
What makes this specific piece a true museum object is not only the exceptionally beautiful, original condition of the dancing pair (the fabric clothing, the paint on the tin faces, and the mechanism), but also the presence of the extremely rare original cardboard box. Cardboard boxes for Fernand Martin toys nearly always disappeared at the time; a surviving example in this condition is a worldwide absolute rarity.
Specifications & Details
* Manufacturer: Fernand Martin (Paris, France)
* Model: Les Valseurs (The Waltzers / The Dancers), catalog number 219
* Year of manufacture: circa 1908 - 1910
* Material: Lithographed tin, tin heads, original fabric clothing
* Height: circa 19 cm
* Drive: Refined clockwork mechanism
* Accessories: Includes the extremely rare, original factory box.
Condition Report
* Visual: In gorgeous, nearly untouched condition. The clothing colors have remained strikingly fresh. The original details on the litho tin and the faces are razor-sharp.
* Mechanical: The mechanism is fully functional. After winding, the clockwork moves the pair, gracefully rolling across the table, exactly as Fernand Martin intended over a century ago.
* The Box: Authentic, with the original historic labels. Stunning collectors’ condition with light, age-appropriate signs that contribute to its unique character.
Fernand Martin toys are renowned worldwide for depicting daily life in Belle Époque Paris. "Les Valseurs" captures the romance of that era like no other. This is no longer a toy; it is a historic work of art, ready for a prominent place in a display case or private museum.
Details
Era
1900-2000
Number of objects
1
Brand
fernand martin
Model/name
VERY RARE FERNAND MARTIN 1910 ‘LES VALSEURS’ WITH BOX
Period
1910-1919
Country of origin
France
Physical condition
Near mint
Packaging
with original box
Material
Tin
Functional condition
Tested and working/playable
Sold by
