A bisque-headed lady has a portrait face with regal expression, closed mouth, blue glass paperweight eyes, aquiline nose, well detailed sculpting and painting, blonde mohair wig, separate bisque shoulderplate, bisque forearms, composition torso and legs. The lady wears an elaborate costume in the manner of the French painter Watteau comprising blue and ivory silk gown with lace trim and rosettes, matching bonnet, and rosette trimmed shoes and is holding flowers in her hand. A woven basket is attached to the doll from a rod at her side torso that attaches to an internal mechanism, and a baby lamb is lying in the basket. Movements: lady turns head side to side, moves her left arm from side to side as though offering flowers to the lamb, the lid of basket opens, the lamb awakens, turning his head from side to side, and finally the lamb bleats. The automaton was featured in an original Roullet catalog, named Bergere Watteau; a companion gentleman, named Berger Watteau, playing the flute, was also available. Underlying the worldliness of late 19th century Paris was a prevailing romantic vision of the pleasures of the simple rural life, a vision ironically realized in luxury automaton such as this. Circa 1880. 24" (61 cm). Four movements and bleating. One tune. Exhibition: Hospice Saint- Charles, Liege, 1994.