A bisque-head lady with exquisite portrait model face has blue glass paperweight eyes, closed mouth, artistic painting of facial features, separate bisque shoulderplate with modeled bosom, carton torso and legs, bisque forearms. She wears an elaborate circus performer costume of harlequin design in rich silk shades of blue, yellow and red with metallic soutache embroidery, and is posed upon a green velvet- covered flat wooden base. A sturdy metal rod attached to her torso serves as a balancing rod for her huggling performance. Posed on the tiptop of the balancing rod, balanced on one foot, is a small bisque doll with glass paperweight eyes and closed mouth, costumed similarly to the lady. In her right hand the lady holds a fan. The bisque lady head is from Jumeau; the smaller bisque head is by Gaultier. Movements: the lady turns from side to side and waves her fan as though to capture attention from the onlookers. Then, while nodding her head, the little boy pivots on his balancing toe, all the while shaking the tambourine he holds in his uplifted hand. An earlier version of a juggling performer was made by Roullet about 1867; shown as #93 in this book,it featured a paper mache man juggling a small doll on his nose. This example, from the rare early series of luxury automata created during the era of Jean Roullet, features an exquisite bisque doll head with portrait features, and was shown on page 121 of Bailly's Automata, The Golden Years. An identical model was shown in their early catalog as No. 175 although identified as Japonaise and featuring a Japanese lady juggler. Other automata in the luxury portrait head series include Pfifferari (#69) and Lady Magicienne (#20). Jean Roullet, France, circa 1880. 29" lady (74 cm) 39" with pole. Five movements. Two tunes. Exhibits: Bagatelle, Paris, 1993.