Posed upon a velvet covered wooden platform is a bisque-head astronomer with glass eyes, open mouth, brunette hand-tied human hair wig, carton torso and legs, bisque arms, along with a smaller bisque doll, portraying the student, with glass eyes, open mouth, brunette short hair, carton torso and legs, bisque arms. The astronomer is dressed in mystical fashion with star-gilded silk gown, green velvet robe with purple and gold edging, purple silk cap with gilded metal symbols, and holding a teacher's rod in left hand, and a long rod with slice of moon in the other. The student is wearing simple schoolboy costume, leather shoes, velvet cap, and is peering into a gilded carved wooden telescope as though to see the moon. Each of the figures is signed SFBJ 301 Paris.
Movements: The astronomer appears to be teaching the student about the moon and stars. She nods and turns her head, and alternately lowers and raises the rod in her left hand, and the rod in her right hand. When she lowers the right hand rod, the moon slice appears in front of the telescope. The student leans forward and back as though peering into the telescope, his hands posed as though in delight at what he sees.
Historical References: The automaton featured in the Roullet & Decamps catalog, named Astronome montrant la lune, No. 264. First appearing in the catalog during the late 1890's, it continued to be made on special commission until about 1915. The rare presentation is a unnique twist to the subject of mysticism and astronomy that was popular with automaton makers. Few examples are known to exist.