Posed upon a velvet covered base is a bisque-head nanny standing behind a lavishly lace-draped cradle with all-bisque baby. The nanny has bisque head, blue glass paperweight eyes, open mouth, porcelain teeth, blonde mohair wig, carton torso that contains mechanism, carton legs, bisque hands. She is dressed in rose pink Normandy traditional costume with lace-edged tablier, black velvet trim, and elaborate regional coiffe and jewelry. The doll is marked Tete Jumeau 3. The automaton and musical movements operate independently of each other.
Movements: The doll nods her head back and forth as though comforting thebaby. Meanwhile she rocks the cradle; her bisque hands are attached to the cradle which has a hinged movement allowing the cradle bed to rock back and forth while the base stays fixed. Music plays.
Historical References: The automaton was featured as Fillette Bercant Sa Poupee, #518, in the 1911 catalog of Roullet & Decamps, but may have been made for some years before that time. The independent movement and music was a variation of technique introduced at that time. Circa 1900.