French Mechanical Toy "Milkmaid Bringing Home the Cow" by Gustav Vichy

Live Auction

13" (33 cm.) Standing upon a tinplate platform with three spoked wheels is a bisque head doll with grey glass inset eyes, painted lashes, arched feathered brows, accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth with center accent line, brunette mohair wig over cork pate, bisque shoulder plate, carton torso and legs, wire upper arms and bisque forearms along with a hide-covered brown cow with brown glass inset eyes, horns, udder, carved wooden feet, leather collar with brass bell, and bellows mechanism in neck. The cow appears to be feeding from a metal stanchion, and there is a wooden milk pail at her side. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: G. Vichy Paris (mechanism). Comments: Gustav Vichy, circa 1880, when wound, the girl turns her head from side to side, alternately waving her arms up and down, while the platform moves along and around on wheeled base. Value Points: rare large luxury mechanical toy with unusual theme, the doll wearing original Normandy milkmaid costume, and mechanism functioning well.