#381

Wonderful French Automaton "Little Girl at the Piano" by Leopold Lambert
Live Auction

$19,500
sold
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Description

15" (38 cm.) Standing at an upright piano with woode grained finish, fine ormolu candle holders, working keys, music rack, and decorative porcelain vase with silk flowers, is a bisque-headed doll with brown glass paperweight inset eyes, painted lashes, brush-stroked brows, accented nostrils and eye corners, closed mouth with shaded lips, pierced ears, blonde mohair wig over cork pate, carton torso and legs, wire upper arms, composition hands. When keywound, the girl appears to play the piano while she gazes side to side at her audience, fingers flitting over the keys. Condition: generally excellent. Marks: Depose Tete Jumeau Bte SGDG 3 (doll). Comments: Leopold Lambert, the doll appeared in that firms catalog as #16 named Bebe Piano. Value Points: beautiful original condition, the doll wearing original rose silk dress with lace and metallic trim, matching bonnet with plumes, rose silk shoes; mechanism and music function well, and the piano has an added surprise for the top hinges open to reveal its origin as a deluxe candy container.