8" (20 cm.) Standing upon a metal three-wheeled base is a paper mache figure depicting a Chinese Mandarin, with amber tinted complexion and painted facial features including moustache, long black queue, carton torso, wire upper arms, wooden hands, wearing original silk Chinese style costume and velvet cap, painted Chinese slippers. He is holding a flute in his right hand, and a bird perches on his left hand. When wound, he runs around on wheeled base, while alternately lifting the flute and the bird, as though teaching the bird to sing. Condition: generally excellent, mechanism functions well, costume original albeit a bit frail. Marks: A. Theroude Paris. Comments: circa 1850, a rare model from the series of wheeled toys made by the early Parisian toy and automaton maker, with perfectly preserved original complexion and features.