A bisque-headed man with unique character face created for this model only has brown glass inset eyes, incised wrinkles on forehead and around the eyes and mouth, modeled moustache, closed mouth with double row of teeth, brunette mohair wig, carton torso and legs, and metal hands, and is posed upon a red velvet covered base behind a ebony-wooden finished street organ. The man wears red and blue silk organ grinder costume with rich detail of decoration, gold buttons, matching hat with feather. A small china doll is dancing atop the organ, attached by a metal rod. The platform has the embossed brass plate of the prestigious Paris toy store Au Paradis des Enfant. Movements: he turns his head in circular and nodding motion, turns the organ grinder wheel with his right arm in a complicated and realistic movement with the appearance of flexing arm muscles, and the doll dances about on the organ top. The extraordinary facial model was made for this automaton only, probably by Gaultier, and features outstanding portraiture and characterization. Few examples are known to exist; another example is illustrated in Bailly's Automata, The Golden Age on pages 62 and 85. By Gustav Vichy, France, circa 1880. 23" (58 cm). Four movements. Two tunes.