$8,000
Sold
sold
Click image to enlarge
Description
23" (58 cm.) Seated daintily upon a wooden stool on a green velvet -covered platform is a bisque-head lady with blue glass paperweight inset eyes, dark eyeliner, painted lashes and brows, closed mouth, pierced ears, blonde mohair wig over cork pate, carton torso and legs, wire upper arms, bisque forearms, wearing (frail) factory-original rose silk dress with elaborate metal and bead appliques and black velvet banding. When wound, music plays, the lady moves her head up and down in a nodding fashion, then side-to-side, while moving the mandolin up and down in her left hand, and strumming the keys with her right; meanwhile her right leg taps in time to the music. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: 7 (head) L.B. (key). Comments: Leopold Lambert, circa 1890. Value Points: all-original automaton with gorgeous Jumeau bisque head, luxury original couturier costume (albeit frail); the superb strong musical sound, deluxe quality of costume, and features such as superbly sculpted fingers indicate creation for a luxury market.