Arranged upon an ebony-finished wooden platform, under a glass dome, is an elegant lady seated at a faux-rosewood piano with gilt edging. Seated atop the piano is a small bisque child that is playing with her smaller all wooden doll. The lady has bisque portrait face with cobalt blue enamel eyes, closed mouth, regal posture, carton torso, wooden hands carved to appear as though posed to play the piano, and is wearing a rose silk dress with lace edging, antique jewelry and original elaborately coiffed mohair wig. Various sheet music is arranged on the piano including Aida; the floor has tapestry-like decorative papers, and an unusual background suggests a room like setting with blue satin curtains, gilt edging, and mirrored back and sides. Original paper label on the side lists two tunes (names illegible). The mechanical movement is signed J. Phalibois, Paris. Movements: the lady elegantly plays the piano, she turns her head from side to side, and nods up and down; the tiny wooden doll moves up and down as though dancing. An identical piece was illustrated in the wholesale catalog of the London importer Silber and Fleming in 1885,and a similar style background to suggest an opulent drawing room of the era was used in several other animated scenes by Phalibois.. Jean Marie Phalibois, France. Circa 1880. 25" (63 cm) to top of room. Four movements. Two tunes.