French Bisque Gliding Musical Mechanical Lady, Portrait Face, Attributed to Roullet

Live Auction

15" (38 cm.) Bisque shoulder head with perfectly oval face and defined throat hollow at the base of her elongated throat, cobalt blue enamel inset eyes, dark eyeliner, painted curly lashes, arched brows, accented nostrils of aquiline-shaped nose, closed mouth with suggestion of smile, unpierced ears, on original carton torso and legs, with hand-stitched original kid arms having fingers stitched to hold objects; the lady is standing upon a wooden platform with three cast brass wheels, in front of a wooden box which contains mechanical works. When wound, music plays and the lady glides forward and in circles, while alternately lifting each arm to peer through her lorgnette or to fan herself. Condition: generally excellent, mechanism and music function well. Marks: F.Depose G. (front shoulderplate). Comments; attributed to Roullet, circa 1867, with original commissioned portrait head from the porcelain firm of Gaultier. The gliding lady and similar waltzing couple automata remained desirable luxury pieces throughout the golden age of automata, beginning with wax models by Theroude about 1845, and continuing into outstanding examples by Vichy, such as this example. Value Points: the rare automaton has gorgeous portrait face, enhanced by original wig and lovely antique costume which includes original hoop frame for train (designed especially to both cover the mechanical box and prevent costume tangling with that box), original Roullet key and stop-start lever.