Passed
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Description
18" (46 cm.) Arranged upon a velvet-covered wooden platform is an amusing scene of a young student being scolded by a serious-minded Professor. Each has bisque head with glass eyes,nicely painted features,closed mouth,mohair wig,the Professor with metal hands,carton torso and legs,and wearing formal suit with pleated shirt and waistcoat,standing behind his wooden desk,holding a book in one hand and a wooden stick in the other. The student is kneeling,holding a book in his uplifted hands,and wearing a dunce cap on his head. Movements and Music. The Professor turns side-to-side,nodding his head and waving his stick as he turns to the student,and inclining his head to read from his book as he turns to the left. The Student lifts his book up and down,perhaps trying to learn,but likely just teasing the Professor,because throughout,the ears of his dunce cap move up and down,back and forth,in mocking gestures. Two tunes are played,one is Swanee River,suggesting the automaton was created for an American venue. Roullet et Decamps,Paris,circa 1895,with bisque heads by Jumeau and Gaultier. The automaton appeared in the Roullet & Decamps catalog as model 262.