20" h. Standing upon a velvet-covered wooden base, behind a wooden teacher's desk with hinged lid, is a bisque-head Professor with glass eyes, closed mouth, brunette mohair wig, slender adult-shaped carton body and legs, metal hands. Kneeling at his side is a student wearing classic dunce cap with donkey ears, the student with bisque head, glass eyes, closed mouth, carton torso and legs, bisque hands. Each wears original well-detailed silk costume. The Professor is marked Depose Tete Jumeau, the student is marked 2/0.
Movements: The Professor nods his head and turns from left to right, waves his right arm up and down as though reprimanding the errant student, and moves his left arm up and down as though reading the lesson. Meanwhile the student moves his head from side to side, moves his arm up and down as though to read the lesson, while his donkey ears amusingly move alternately back and forth. Music plays.
Historical References: The automaton appeared in a Roullet & Decamps catalog described as Maitre d"Ecole et Son Eleve, #262. Wearing a donkey cap with ears was a traditional reprimand for mischievous students in the 19th century French schools, comparable to the American dunce cap. The automata makers added the comic element of the flapping ears to an already flavorful human interest scene.