#189

French Bisque Automaton
Live Auction

$9,000
sold
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Description
23" (58 cm.) Standing upon a velvet covered wooden base is a bisque-headed doll with blue glass paperweight eyes,painted lashes and brows,slightly parted lips,porcelain teeth,blonde mohair wig,slender carton torso and elongated legs,wire upper arms,bisque forearms and hands,wearing elegant red and ivory silk costume of Marquis. He holds a bone cigarette holder in his right hand and a lace handkerchief in left hand. When wound,music plays,he turns head side to side and up and down while alternately lifting the handkerchief,and then the cigarette from which he takes a long drag,and then exhales the smoke from his mouth (which travels through tubing in body thus appearing as though actually smoking). Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Depose Tete Jumeau (head) R.D. (silver key) Les 28 jours de clairette (pencilled tune name on paper label under base). Comments: Roullet et Decamps,circa 1890. Value Points: well-functioning and amusing automaton with delightful music and original tune label.