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France LimitedEdition 1878Mignot 9LeadFigurines BoxSet Can-CanStageBar Curiosity

About the Item

Titled "French Can-Can", this rare limited-edition signed boxed unfolding-stage complete set with nine miniature hand-painted lead and pewter cabaret figurines was originally a one-of-a-kind "depose" creation in the late 19th-Century by the last French lead toy-soldier manufacturer Mignot, which was the incorporated business since 1825 of the Parisian toy-maker C.B. G that was founded in the late 18th Century. As a vintage set by the legacy company CBG Mignot--which acquired the figurine matrixes made until 1940 to handcraft reproductions since the late 20th Century--it was purchased by its collector in the 1990s from the owner of Berthillon, a famous Parisian candy-and-ice-cream shop on the Ile-de-la-Cite. It is rare to find more than one figurine from this edition. For those who may not be serious collectors of historical figurines or French memorabilia, we think it would make a fun curiosity for an accessible shelf near a bar or desk. With the red textured-paper-covered thick-cardboard cover removed, one side of the rectangular box falls to enable ample room to view the three-walled dance-theatre that features a printed-paper raised wooden stage and decorative rug surrounded by wallpaper audiences and an elegant performance backdrop. The box includes six intricate figurines, along with a white table and two chairs. As an alternative to seating the male and female patrons on the edge of the stage, the furniture can be useful--unless you wish to playfully suggest a bar fight involving the lone standing man. The nine movable objects are dominated by three sturdy larger and heavier pewter Can-Can dancers. The figurines are in good vintage condition with minor loss of paint at some edges. The thin-framed furniture is delicate, while the fragile stem of the table must be handled with care when positioned to balance on a flat surface. The size noted in the Measurement Units section is for the closed box. While photographed, the red top of the box lid is darker in one spot above the branded text. The exterior multicolor sticker is printed “C.B. G, Fabrique Francaise, Marque De Fabrique, Argent Paris 1878, Paris 1889 Member du Jury Hors Concours, Or Paris 1900”. This means that the original novelty was created by Mignot for its award-winning display at the Paris International Exhibition in 1878. The physically-demanding Can-Can is a traditional chorus line of skirted female dancers recognized for executing many high kicks and acrobatics that temporarily reveal their legs, which became a popular form of adult entertainment for couples by the mid-1800s. Beyond individual figurines referencing history, limited-edition boxed sets by CBG Mignot were mostly military themed and have been in high demand by contemporary collectors since Malcolm Forbes publicized his extensive Mignot armies.
  • Dimensions:
    Width: 5 in (12.7 cm)Depth: 3.5 in (8.89 cm)Length: 7.5 in (19.05 cm)
  • Style:
    Victorian (In the Style Of)
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
  • Material Notes:
    hand-painted lead and pewter figurines for boxed printed-paper stage set
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Chicago, IL
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU3244219203272
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