A wooden platform is decorated to appear as a moss-covered stone courtyard upon which is a moss-covered stone well with wooden roof decorated with trailing vines. A pulley with metal chain is suspended above the well and holds the old wooden bucket in which a frog is hiding. A bisque-head woman stands at the well as though drawing up water. She wears a country costume with lace blouse and panniers, silk skirt, apron, straw hat and wooden sabots. She has brown glass paperweight eyes, closed mouth, blonde mohair wig, carton torso and legs, bisque forearms and hands. The doll is marked Depose Tete Jumeau Bte SGDG. The attached key is Roullet et Decamps.
Movements: The lady alternately lifts her arms as though operating the pulley to bring up the well bucket. The bucket comes up. Then, suddenly a frog pops out of the bucket just as it reaches the top. The lady drops the bucket (and the frog) quickly back into the well. Then she looks around, side to side, as though she can't believe what happened and then seems to think "Oh, well", and proceeds all over again. Music plays.
Historical References: The automata was illustrated in the original Roullet & Decamps catalog named Paysanne au Puits, #329. The movements are well-timed and an amusing Parisian fantasy view of the country scene. However, it is likely that few were ever made as the piece is very rare.